Remarks on the abracadabra of the nineteenth century : or on Dr. Samuel Hahnemann's homoeopathic medicine, with particular reference to Dr. Constantine Hering's "Concise view of the rise and progress of homoeopathic medicine"

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REMARKS

ON

THE ABRACADABRA

OF THE

TSTtnettcntlj (ttntuvg;

OR ON

Dr. SAMUEL HAHNEMANN'S

HOMCEOPATHIC MEDICINE,

WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO

Dk. CONSTANTINE HERING'S

CONCISE VIEW OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF HOMCEOPATHIC MEDICINE/

Philadelphia, 1833.

WILLIAM LEO-WOLF, M.D.

When thus ripe lies are to perfection sprung,
Fall grown and fit to grace a mortal tongue
Thro' thousand vents impatient forth they flow,
And rush in millions on the world below. — PorE.

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NEW-YORK :
1835.

PUBLISHED BY CAREY, LEA AND BLANCHARD, IN PHILADELPHIA,

WBK
183 5

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1835, by William Leo-Wolf,
M.D. in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-
York.

I

PRINTED BY GEORGE P. fCOTTJ & CO. ANN 61BEKT, NEW-YOKK.

PREFACE.

The only probable reason for the long continuance of
those prejudices and superstitions which are not sus-
tained by the interests of large privileged classes of so-
ciety, is, that when intelligent men know the tenets of
a doctrine to be inconsistent and false, they do not think
it worth while to examine it minutely, but leave the sub-
ject to the weak-minded and credulous, who, considering
silence or mere satire as an indirect admission of their
extravagant and fanciful conceptions, generally become
firmer in their belief and bolder in their public conduct.
This appears also the principal reason why homoeopa-
thia has existed so long.

Adverse to controversy, the author of these remarks
never thought of expressing publicly his opinion of ho-
mceopathia until towards the end of the last year, when
he accidentally became acquainted with Dr. Hering's
" Concise View of the rise and progress of the homoeo-
" pathic doctrine." He then clearly saw that the vota-
ries of this medical superstition had selected the United
States as the most propitious field for its propagation,
and that they would leave no stone unturned to pre-
possess the public in their favor.

Aware of the benefits to be derived by his adopted
country, from a faithful exposition of this new medical
doctrine, the original works of which are inaccessible to
those unacquainted with the German language ; the au-
thor was instigated to this tedious task by the desire
also of vindicating the literary honor of Germany, his
native country, so much abused by the false reports of
the persecutions which Hahnemann had to suffer there
for truth's sake, of the high respect which he now
enjoys as a man and as a reformer of medicine, and by

the wrong statements in regard to the large number of
her distinguished physicians, said to have zealously
adopted this mode of treatment.

The following remarks were written merely as a re-
view, and were at first intended for an American medical
periodical. As they did not appear in that form, the
author lately yielded to the repeated wishes of his pro-
fessional friends, collected the fragments, and now offers
them in their present form. The original destina-
tion of these remarks, the great difficulties of writing
in a foreign idiom, of correcting the manuscript, and
many other reasons, will explain the non-observance
of a strict logical order, the occurrence of frequent repe-
titions, the long and numerous notes, and other defects,
for which the kind indulgence of the reader is humbly
requested. The author must state that a part of these de-
fects is to be attributed also to the hope, cherished to the
last moment, of being released from this publication by the
abler pen of some American colleague. And indeed, it is
difficult to comprehend, why such a pamphlet as the
Concise View, could have been circulated for upwards
of eighteen months in a populous and enlightened city,
possessing a celebrated university, and so many distin-
guished professional men, without any pertinent public
censure ; and it must appear still more strange, that in
this city likewise, such a disgraceful publication as that
contained in the New-York Commercial Advertiser of the
7th of February last, and which will be mentioned here-
after, could also have remained unnoticed. — It cannot
be justly expected that well educated physicians and me-
dical authors should be constantly warring against all
kinds of charlatanism. Common quackery claims not to
be founded on scientific principles, it merely demands
implicit belief in its arcana usually recommended for spe-
cial cases only, and does not, therefore, directly involve
misconceptions of a general character in regard to the

healing art ; hence, the injury done by it, is confined to
the credulity of individuals who, if they are disappointed,
must suffer the natural consequences of all imprudence.
But when charlatanism adopts the features of a medical
system, and pretends to reform the healing art, by reject-
ing the fundamental principles of the human intellect
and the truths of all experience hitherto acknowledged,
by inventing supernatural powers, under the term laws of
nature, and by relying on false statements and illusory
facts; and when its adherents, either from ignorance
and self-deception, or from egotism and self-interest,
palm upon the public, under the cloak of philanthropy
and professional zeal, the grossest misconceptions, and
the most noxious superstitions; then the injury can easily
increase to an alarming extent before the public is un-
deceived, and it then becomes the imperative duty of the
profession frankly to state the true facts, and to explain
the true bearings of so important a subject.

The author would farther state, that he has never read
one of the different German publications in opposition
to Hahnemannism, except some few lines of a review of
the Pseudomessias Medicus, written by one of his for-
mer respected colleagues, Doctor Simon, junior, at Ham-
burg, and published in the Allgemeine Medizinishe An-
nalen, (Feb. 1832), of his distinguished friend, Professor
Hecker, at Berlin ; he has merely seen their titles in the
Leipzig book-catalogues, and is therefore ignorant whe-
ther he has taken the same ground with other opposers
of Hahnemann's, or not. It appears from the title of the
work mentioned, and similar ones subsequently published
by Dr. Simon, that this learned author has dipped his
pen principally in the ink of ridicule and satire. Though
this course is almost inevitable to any one who writes
againstHahnemannism,asubject of such vital importance
should, however, be examined differently ; particularly
as the discussions which homceopathia, like similar su-

perstitions, excite, are so intimately connected with the
most subtile investigations in the natural sciences and
metaphysics, that they offer inexhaustible means for a
rational polemic. The author who advocates truth
should also remember, that it will never be sufficient
merely to ridicule and to despise such subjects, however
ridiculous and contemptible they may be. Rational
arguments, derived from the impartial scrutiny of expe-
rience, are, if any, the only ones, capable of successfully
combating the general predilection of man for the ex-
traordinary and miraculous, and of destroying the noxi-
ous influence of sophisms and prejudices, rooted in ig-
norance and extravagant fancy, or in the implicit belief
of naked and delusive facts.

The author has also briefly alluded to some topics,
which, though not directly connected with homceopa-
thia, appear to him worth noticing as erroneous con-
ceptions and obnoxious prejudices still existing among
the profession and the public. He wishes, however, that
these remarks may be considered only as the abstract
of his individual researches and experience, which he
thought his duty not to withhold, as they might, even if
he should be in the wrong, call forth an exchange of
opinions on these important subjects, which would be-
nefit the public and the profession.

In conclusion, the author will state that he will meet
all objections which may be made to his remarks in
a scientific and dignified manner ; if proffered in any
other mode, they will remain unanswered. — " Et refellere
" sine pertinacia, et refelli sine iracundia parati su-
" mus." — Cicero.

New- York, December, 1834.

CONTENTS.

Page
Historical and biographical sketch of the homoeopathic doctrine and of

Hahnemann _...--..- 9

Remarks on Dr. Hering's reproach of the incapability and dishonesty of

the apothecaries at Leipzig, and on the 6tate of pharmacy in Germany 34
Fragmentary remarks on the present state of practical medicine and surgery 46
On the homoeopathic doctrine generally ------ 58

The three fundamental maxims of homceopathia in general 61

Results of experiments with simple drugs on healthy persons 62

The homoeopathic " law of nature," or the maxim, similia similibus curantur 75
Hahnemann's " great truth," that itch is the only cause of all chronic diseases 166
The third hemoeopathic maxim, or that it is impossible to administer too

small a dose of a drug __.----. 179

Medical virtues developed from all natural substances, and especially from

simple drugs -_-_.---__ 181
The energy of solutions of medicinal substances excessively increased by

their transmission from place to place - «.. - - - - - 228

Direful consequences of the homoeopathic superstition if generally adopted 237
Homceopathia contradicted by Hahnemann's earlier public statements, his

later retractions, etc. --------- 239

Conclusion 253

EXPLANATION OF THE VIGNETTE.

The "old philosopher," sitting in the magic diagram, proclaims to the world the charm of his
discovered " law of nature" written in the inverse shape of the old Abracadabra, (see page
262) and containing the same uneven number of letters, — "numero deus impare gaudet,"
— Virg. Buccol. He is just engaged in developing spirits from a simple drug by trituration,
as is clearly seen by a very large and fiery one — "ignea inest illis vis" — which is escaping
from the mortar at the command of his magic wand, and which, on account of its size,
appears to belong, at least, to the sixtieth potenz. — The negro, thankful for the gratifying
prospects of his physical emancipation, which has already happily succeeded with one half
of his sooty skin, assists the "great benefactor of mankind" in his ''gigantic work," and de-
velopes the thirtieth potenz from table salt, by shaking "from above downwards." — It appears
his zeal actuated him too much, and that he has shaken, contrary to the directions of the
"great reformer," too violently and too often, as numerous spirits rush out of the vial. One
of them, probably in consequence of his particularly glorified antipsoric nature, gets hold of
the great cross of the order of the itch, which, it is rumoured, has lately been created by
the great magician, in spite of the "bayonets of the kings and princes of Europe;" and
is reserved particularly as a munificent reward for the arduous zeal of his missionaries, in
propagating the " great truth," in " Egypt the land of monsters and the sanguinary gold coast,"
and particularly in America. — The emblems of all the "learned lumber" of the healing art,
accumulated for scores of centuries, have "fallen to the ground ;" the stick of ^Esculapius
as well as the scutcheon of Minerva are broken to pieces ; and even the favorite bird of
Athene, which so long has been her faithful companion, is dead; — "nequidquam seros
exercet noctua cantus," — Virg. Georg. It died however, not from the hellebore, which
luxuriantly grows around the mysterious grotto, without any remedial effect : but of grief,
at seeing the new mathematical principles, and the other marvellous reforms of the com-
petitor of " Galileo and Harvey :"

- - - Me suae contra non immemor artis,

Omnia transformat sese in miracula rerum. — Virg. Georg.

REMARKS OJN JJLOMCEOPATH1A,

Although the doctrine of Hahnemann, or the homoeopathic doc-
trine has within the last few years been adopted in this country
as the leading principle of medical practice by some respectable
physicians ; it has, however, remained unknown to the mass of
the medical profession, and has been but little noticed by the
medical periodicals.

The task of introducing this doctrine to the American public
has devolved upon Dr. Constantine Hering, of Philadelphia, who,
in his pamphlet entitled " A concise view of the rise and progress
of homoeopathic medicine," Philadelphia, 1833, has given a brief
sketch of this remarkable literary phenomenon of the present age.

So long as any doctrine or practice of the healing art remains
the rule of individual practitioners only, no one has a right to
criticize it publicly ; but if this doctrine is promulgated in such a
manner as to mislead, and even to injure, the young medical
student as well as the public, it then becomes the imperative duty
of every man, who believes the whole doctrine to be founded upon
the grossest errors and contradictions, and who knows facts which
differ widely from the statements published, not to withhold the
truth, and to examine the subject by the tests of reason and ex-
perience.

In order to remove any suspicions that the following pages are
more or less dictated by personal feelings, we must state, that in
our present retirement we are more than ever indifferent what
course of practice physicians may pursue to promote the interest of
their patients or their own. Hud it not been for our reluctance to
appear before the public, and more especially in a controversy, we
should have vindicated our native country and the honor of
its professional men, on a former occasion, when one of our
respected colleagues, in New- York, thought proper to honor
publicly, the homoeopathic treatment of the Asiatic cholera by
camphor with the term " German treatment.''

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10

Wc regret very much, that the author of the above mentioned
pamphlet did not submit the subject scientifically to the profession
alone, before addressing it to the public ; and also, that he has
attempted to forestall public opinion, by blending the moral and
intellectual standing of the author of homocepathia with the
doctrine itself. Had his course been otherwise, the whole contro-
versy would have been confined within the limits of a free scientific
discussion, and it would not have been necessary to divest the
subject of personal considerations not belonging to it, nor to dispel
the halo cast over Hahnemann by his disciples and followers. As
he has done this, however, without due regard to the dignity
of one of the most noble and beneficial sciences and of its faithful
servants, it is obvious, that studied delicacy cannot be reciprocally
expected from any man, who has always been zealously attached
to his profession, who is conscious of what mankind owes to the
noble exertions of those distinguished in the history and literature
of medicine, and who will never consent to receive, in place of the
latter, a methodical charlatanism, based upon the most absurd
conceptions and the rudest empiricism.

Every impartial reader of the "Concise View" must be gratified
to find in the author a man of learning and of professional cha-
racter. No one could object to his zeal for adopting the homoeo-
pathic doctrine, and for introducing it into this country. The
pursuit of such high objects as the health and life of his fellow-men,
must claim indulgence for every one, and especially for him who
devotes himself to the healing art, even if his scientific views,
whether original or embraced from other sources, should be con-
tradictory to common sense and to the experience of the most
eminent men of this and former ages. How many men of the
greatest attainments in particular sciences and arts, and of the
purest moral character, have believed and even now admit things
incompatible with the laws of human intellect, and contrary to all
experience ! How numerous the confirmations of Cicero's re-
mark, " Nihil tarn absurde dici potest, quod non dicatur ab aliquo
<{ philosophoruin !" But if a man is so led away by his zeal, or by
any other motives, as to publish for facts, statements which arc
erroneous, and by which the public mind may easily be misguided,
concerning such valuable and irreparable objects as life and health ;
then, the most charitable conjecture is his want of true information
on the subject.

II

li is a very remarkable, and in fact a characteristic feature of the
homeopathic doctrine, that most of its followers, and also the
author of the concise view, are obliged, in its support, to disregard
not only all medical knowledge hitherto considered as highly
valuable by the profession ; but to proclaim its inventor, Samuel
Hahnemann, the greatest philosopher, the first medical genius of
every age, and almost a saint. It appears as if they felt their
doctrine to be inconsistent with every law of the human under-
standing, and endeavored to compensate for its contradictions and
defects by representing Hahnemann as a martyr for truth, by
canonizing him though yet alive, and by making his suggestions
and tenets the objects of implicit faith and worship. — But what has
a medical doctrine, or any other scientific hypothesis, to do with
the character of its founder? Francis Bacon says very correctly
in his Organon: " Pessima enim res est errorum apotheosis, et pro
"peste intellectus habenda est, si vanis accedit veneratio." Kepler's
and Newton's immensely valuable discoveries would be equally
esteemed, had their characters as men been less pious and moral.
The life of Francis Bacon, whom we have just quoted, was by no
means pure, still his Organon and his other writings have lasted
for centuries ; and will ever be known as the master works of the
human intellect.* John Brown's intemperate habits were known
to all his followers, yet this did not prevent the adoption and ex-
tension of his doctrine.

On the first page of his pamphlet, we read with the greatest
astonishment the following : " Het who had himself never assumed
" an offensive attitude, and the truth of whose doctrines only could
" with propriety be combated, ought to have been treated with due

* As Dr. Hering seems to compare, also, the absurdities and ravings of his " great
medical genius," with this master work of Francis Bacon above mentioned, (see 1. c.
p. 6.) we shall quote many passages of this and the other works of this truly great
reformer of all natural sciences, who so gallantly combated the scholastic philosophy,
this mother of doctrines equally superstitious, and similar to those of Hahnemann.
If homoeopathists had ever read and understood one page of Bacon's Organon, they
would never have been so childish as to believe, that Hahnemann's Organon must be
equally valuable, because he was bold enough to give to his miserable patch-work the
same title, under the foolish impression that it will reform medicine; they would then
also know, that no man was more cautious against all delusions of the senses, and
all the mistakes and false conclusions, arising from false conceptions, than Francis
Bacon ; and that he was always particularly anxious to recommend the minute in-
vestigation of the causes of phenomena, saying, " recte ponitur: vere scire esse per
causas scire." A maxim so much ridiculed and despised by Hahnemann and his
followers !

i He, in the language of homosopathists, always refers to Hahnemann; like the dis-
ciples of Pythagoras, they think to prove the truth of any thing, by saying " awroi
5<pa." "He has said it."

12

" respect; which I regret to say, he did not receive at the hands oi
" some of the physicians in Germany." Now these things may well
be stated in a country, where this whole controversy is little
known, and will never be fully understood ; for it is not probable
that any American would undertake the tedious task of perusing
all the essays published pro and con, in Germany, on this subject.
Every Geiman, however, who is well acquainted with the literary
history of the age, and with the origin and progress of the homoeo-
pathic doctrine in his native country must admit, that since the
time of Paracelsus, who was in many respects truly distinguished
as a great medical genius, no professional author has treated the
greatest physicians and medical authors of past and present ages,
with less respect and more unblushing impudence than Samuel
Hahnemann, though he was guilty of the grossest and repeated im-
positions upon the public. About the year 1S00 he advertised, ex-
tensively, a new salt, the discovery of which he claimed and which
he offered for sale, under the name of alkali pneum, at the moderate
price of one louisd'or (about $4) per ounce. The society for the
promotion of natural sciences at Berlin desired to become ac-
quainted with this new substance, which, as Hahnemann stated,
would exercise a great influence upon chemistry. They procured an
ounce of it from his agent at Leipzig, which was analyzed by some
of the greatest chemists of the age, Professors Karsten, Hermb-
staedt and Klaproth ; and these men pronounced it, in the trans-
actions of that society, as nothing but common borax, a pound of
which costs but a few cents.* Shortly afterwards, he advertised
his " infallible preventive of scarlet fever," as he termed it ; the
price of this, also, was a louisd'or ; but being disappointed in the sale
thereof, he afterwards confessed it to consist of nothing but a few
grains of the extract of belladonna dissolved in water : also,
worth about a few cents. Who, now, we ask, would consider a man
trustworthy and honorable, particularly a physician, distinguished
for some knowledge and talents who, from the basest interest
becomes a public impostor, and withholds from his fellow-men,
even for a single hour, what he considers to be a preventive of a
dangerous and frequently fatal disease, merely because poor people
are unable to pay him four dollars for what costs him but a few cents?
The able Professor Joerg, at Leipzig, has proved by laborious

* See the celebrated German Literary Gazette, the .Tenner Literatur-Zeitune
Beylage fur 1801, No. 1.

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investigations that many of the quotations from old medical authors,
made hy Hahnemann in support of his doctrine, arc adulterated
and false. Can any one confide iu the veracity of such a man
without the most unquestionable evidence ?

The eminent talents and merits of Hahneman before he wrote
upon homoeopathia, are also held forth to the public, with a view to
prejudice them in favour of this " new Art of Healing," as we read
on pages 1 and 2 of Dr. Hcring's pamphlet : " Nor were his ex-
" traordinary talents, which in riper years rendered him one of the
" greatest medical geniuses, unknown at that time.'" We are really
at a loss to express the just indignation which everyone, even but
slightly acquainted with the history of medicine, must feel at hearing
such humbuggery! About thirty-four years ago we had the good
fortune to become acquainted with this " greatest medical genius,"
shortly after we had settled at Altona, a Danish city near Ham-
burg. Hahnemann intended to practise his profession at the lat-
ter place, which, being at that time without a regulated medical
police, offered a large field for his arcana and other quackeries,
on account of which he had already been obliged to leave several
places, and to wander about in his native country, even when nearly
forty-five years old. Unable to succeed at Hamburg, he left this
place also, after a short stay. We well remember some conversation
held with him on different professional subjects, especially on John
Brown's system then in vogue, in which, however, he not only
displayed no extraordinary acquirements or talents, but without
mentioning any results of his homoeopathic doctrine, the same shal-
lowness of judgment and propensity to mysteries and absurdities,
which have distinguished him through his whole life. Although
at that time he had been known for upwards of twenty-four years
as a good scholar, as the translator of several works from foreign
languages, and also by his discoveries of the adulteration of wines
by lead, the detection of poisoning by arsenic, and his mercurius
solubilis, still he was never, to our knowledge, appointed a professor
in any medical institution, nor was he engaged in an extensive
practice; probably because he was not qualified; for at that time
Germany was by no means as well provided with physicians as at
present; and now there arc still wealthy provinces in Prussia, where
the ratio of the physicians to the population is as 1 to 7000, and in
several provinces of Bohemia, as 1 to 60,000 inhabitants.' Every

Se< Di Stretntz in Medicinische Iahrbuecher des K K Oesterreichischen Staates

14

German physician, therefore, who has no particular religious or
political objections to a stay in his native country, has many more
chances of obtaining a large and profitable practice there, than in
any other, provided he can pass the rigorous state-examinations,
now established by law, independent of the academical gradu-
ation, because many medical faculties did confer the degree of Medi-
cinaj Doctor upon ignorant individuals. Our author is, therefore,
very much mistaken in saying, on p. 1, " previously to his appear-
" ance as the reformer of medicine, he had been known and esteemed
" as one of the most learned, accomplished and meritorious physi-
" cians in Germany." Hahnemann excepted, we cannot recollect a
single instance, for upwards of thirty years, where a physician of but
moderate talents was obliged to travel about in search of practice ;
and it would require but very little knowledge of practical medicine to
prove, as we shall attempt hereafter, by many passages from Hah-
nemann's works, that he could never have been engaged in exten-
sive practice, although, we believe, many of his false assertions are
made not from ignorance, but from his egotism and his contempt
for the opinions of others. Exclusive of Hahnemann's works upon
his doctrine, his other medical productions are very trivial, and
composed chiefly of compilations and translations, not worthy of
a "great genius," who should certainly have found other subjects
in the vast extent of the natural and medical sciences to engage
his elevated mind ! In regard to the distinguished discoveries in
chemistry, which our author claims for his master, the learned
professors of this science can name no discovery or improvement,
suggested by Hahnemann, except those above mentioned ; two of
which, the ascertaining of the adulteration of wine by lead, aud
of poisoning by arsenic, have proved insufficient from the pro-
gress made in analytical chemistry ; and the third, his mercurius
solubilis, (the very name of which is incorrect, because it is soluble
neither in water nor alcohol,) is nearly the same as the mercurius
cinerius Blackii or Edinburgensium, known long before his time
and proved to be a very unsafe preparation ; yet, about forty years

Vol. VII. No. 1, 3, 4, for 1832. The ratio of well educated, examined and licensed sur-
geons, who are permitted to administer medical aid in urgent cases, is about 1 to 1500
The governments of Austria and Prussia, convinced of the importance of thorough-
bred physicians, whose education embraces also a minute knowledge of all the philoso-
phical sciences, wisely enforce the strictest qualifications for medical practitioners of a
higher order, and prefer to leave many districts but scantily provided with them, rather
than to entrust the lives of their people to men who, in limes of extreme danger' miehi
prove incompetent.

15

ago Hahnemann, with his accustomed charlatanism, asserted not
only that it would destroy the very existence of all syphilitic and
many other diseases, but also, that it would never salivate, which it
does more than any other preparation of mercury. His causti
cum, which the author of the concise view is pleased to term on
page 23, " a new substance discovered by Hahnemann," has
proved to be a discovery something like that of his alkali pneum —
nothing but an impure alkali. — Indeed, it must appear strange to
every scientific man, that in our time a now substance, and espe-
cially a valuable remedy, should have remained so long unnoticed
by all the chemists, and not mentioned in the large and valuable
works of Thenard, Berzelius, Gmelin, or any other author on che-
mistry. Hahnemann is, on the contrary, so ignorant of the great
progress in chemistry during the last half century, that he appears to
the reader of his works, who is acquainted only with the elements
of this immense science in its present state, more ignorant than an
author of ages long past, who had, at least, a clear conception of
Stahl's phlogiston, Meyer's acidum pingue, or of similar hypothe-
ses and technical terms then used. Thus, in explaining his pre-
paration of silicea (see Chronic Diseases, Vol. III. p. 208), he
speaks of a "causticum" (phlogiston probably), which the natrum
acquires while melting with flint, and which, combined with the
oxygen of the atmosphere, generates carbonic acid, which is evi-
dently nonsense, even according to the old phlogistic theory. He
considers further the precipitated silicea to be soluble in alcohol,
although it is regarded as insoluble by all other chemists. He
also states that sulphur is very soluble in alcohol, while according
to all chemists, it is but slightly soluble in* its gaseous state, in the
vapour of water, and is perfectly insoluble in alcohol or liquid
water. With all this he had the unparalleled boldness and impu-
dence to say (Chronic Dis. Vol. I. p. 183), in regard to the present
state of chemistry, " The over refined chemistry of our time is yet
" ignorant of the easy solubility of sulphur in alcohol, and also of
" the solubility of metals and earths in the same, after they have
been potenzised* ten thousand or a million times by triturition."
All this nonsense is, nevertheless, considered by the infatuated

* The term "potenzised" is correlative to the expression " developed drug-virtue ,"
and though not often used in the English language, we are obliged to adopt it to
express briefly the power alledged to be developed from the atoms of simple drugs by
homoeopathic manipulation, and which may be considered similar to the powers ot
numbers or of other signs used by mathematicians.

16

followers of Hahnemann, as more wise and true than the results
of the minutest chemical investigations of a Humphrey Davy,
Berzelius, Faraday, Gay-Lussac, &c. This « great genius" and
his followers have a natural philosophy, chemistry, a materia
medica, therapia, etc.; nay, even an arithmetic of their own, as
we shall prove hereafter more minutely.

This however is no reasonable objection to the intrinsic value
and truths of the homoeopathic doctrine, since many highly inter-
esting discoveries in almost every science, and particularly in me-
dicine, have been made by men of inconsiderable talent, whim-
sical conceptions and doubtful character. An extensive practice
of more than half a century often fails to promote the science ;
while the minute observation of a few cases only may richly en-
large it. Statements, however, unconnected with the objects in
view are uncalled for,and should not be perverted in order to forestall
public sentiment. This course has been pursued by Hahnemann
and most of his disciples, and his opponents are therefore also
compelled to tear the unmerited laurels from the head of the man,
before considering the falsehood and inconsistency of his doctrine.

On page 15 of his pamphlet, Dr. Hering says, " Among the
" contemporary professors of medicine, of which there were more
" than two hundred, who received salaries in Germany, among all
"the hospital physicians, there was not one who was induced to study
" it." This assertion, supposing that Dr. Hering knew by inspiration
exactly, the course of reading pursued by all these men, corresponds
but little with his remarks a few lines previous : " The labors of the
" Germans, who constantly and eagerly borrow all that is most
" valuable in the arts ana* sciences from the available sources of all
" times and of every nation, <fcc," nor with his emphatic expressions
of " the depth and solidity of the Germans," of " the worth of
" German science," &c, nor even with his statement on page 15.
" The German savans appeared sensible, that if both these propo
" sitions were established, &c, then all the learned lumber which
" theorists had been accumulating for two thousand years must fall
" to the ground." Foreigners, unacquainted with the character and
standing of the German professors, might suppose these assertions,
although contradicting each other, to proceed not only from pro-
hibitory measures of the government, but also from party spirit
and the fears entertained by the German practitioners, that this
new doctrine might injure their practice This mistake we feel

17

it our duty to rectify. No pamphlet or larger work in any lan-
guage would long remain unnoticed or uncriticised in Germany,
if it should contain a single important scientific idea or experi-
ment. The German literary institutions publish upwards of sixty
periodicals devoted to natural sciences only, more than one half of
which are appropriated to medical essays and reviews. Most of
these periodicals are issued in protestant states, where men possess,
even on religious topics, an independence and liberty of discussion
which, when we reflect upon the intimate connection between
church and state still existing there, may justly be considered as
unparalleled in any part of the civilized world. It must there-
fore be evident that such objects as are but distantly connected
with the prerogatives and interests of monarchical governments,
as for instance all the natural sciences and particularly medicine,
are open to free discussion all over Germany. Most of the pro-
fessors of medicine in the German universities are ardently at-
tached to the sciences, and are also perfectly independent in their
circumstances.* Hence they are generally quite indifferent about
obtaining private medical practice, and those particularly who are
engaged as physicians of hospitals and dispensaries, feel them-
selves in duty bound to subject every new method of treatment
and every newly recommended drug to the test of experience in
the presence of their students. In no other country therefore
have new medical theories or modes of treatment spread so rapidly
and so widely among the greater part of the profession, as in Gei
many ; and in no other country have the oldest professors and
practitioners so publicly avowed their long cherished errors and
mistakes, and have received, upon the slightest appearance of
truth, a new doctrine with greater candor or with more perfect
disinterestedness. This was the case with John Brown's theory,
which was zealously adopted by one of the greatest physicians
of the age, John Peter Frank, when he was nearly seventy years
old; and this was the case in our times also with the no less
erroneous doctrine of Broussais.t But in every instance some ap-
pearance of reason, some consistency, is required.

* Their salaries are from one to upwards of ten thousand dollars pel annum, be
sides their tickets for their lectures, and their shares as members of medical faculties,
as examinators, &c, which, in some cases, increase their income to more than twenty
thousand dollars per annum.

f It is not our object to lessen the respect dm: to this distinguished physician and
author, though we deny the propriety of calling his doctrine pre-eminently " physiolo
gical medicine," and also, that he deserves the name, " father of modern medii

3

18

Perhaps, the Germans generally appreciate the merits of their
own countrymen less than those of foreigners, and are rather too
much disposed to listen readily to scientific suggestions from abroad.
This fault is owing to their natural want of petty literary egotism,
which always exists in an inverse ratio with the extent of learning
and acquirements ; and to a want of national pride, arising from
the political condition of that country. We may partly ascribe to
this predilection for foreign suggestions the fact, that the practice
of medicine has there also rather declined than improved for the
last thirty years, although all the branches of theoretical medicine
and surgery have attained a degree of perfection unsurpassed, if
not unparalleled, in the literary history of all countries and ages.
But, without the elevated self-respect of her literary men in
scientific pursuits, the immense medical literature of Germany
could not exist; many indispensable branches of the profession, for
instance, medical jurisprudence, political, and especially psychical
medicine, could not have originated in Germany, or attained there a
perfection unheard of in other countries ; nor would discoveries
of their own medical men have been acknowledged for their
intrinsic value, and pursued with perseverance, however little they
have been noticed abroad. Thus animal magnetism, first men-
tioned about three centuries ago by Paracelsus, a German, and
introduced as a remedy about sixty years since, by Mesmer, also
a German, remained almost unnoticed by all other nations, the
French excepted, although many professional men in Germany
still apply this great agent as a remedy which, hereafter, will be

so emphatically bestowed upon him, particularly in the medical works of this country.

Sepending almost entirely on the evidence of post mortem examinations, ami neglecting
1 higher philosophical conceptions, he directed his mind only to the palpable results
of his investigations, and easily found by them what his favorite opinion had sought
for. Like all those who pretend to be reformers in medicine, he cherished his hypo-
thesis more than impartial scrutiny, by rejecting indiscriminately the truths contained
in former medical doctrines. Partially opposed to abstract ideas, called by him " on-
tological abstractions," Broussais, however, introduced in his " irritation" an abstract
conception, more vague and narrow than many similar ones before him, and which is
also discordant with the gross materialism so much advocated by him in his writings,
and particularly in his work " On Irritation and Insanity," in a manner which we must
consider unworthy of an elevated mind. — A systematic doctrine of practical medicine,
without regard to physiological principles, could be nothing but rude empiricism ; and
as every meritorious work on practical medicine must necessarily be founded on physi-
ology, we cannot acknowledge that his system has any special claim to the term physi-
ological system. We know of no important anatomical or physiological discovery for
which the profession is particularly indebted to him, as it is to so many of his highly
distinguished countrymen, who, like Bichat, Magendie, and many others, have in
past and present times, so brilliantly enriched and improved the healing art.—" Pal-
mam qui meruit, ferat."

19

more generally appreciated, when likewise divested of the mj'stery
which fancy and credulity have so long combined with it.

Why, then, should Hahnemann's works have remained so long
unnoticed in his own country, as Dr. Hering states ? They were
not; they have been frequently reviewed in the German periodi-
cals. But the darkness of the middle ages had, at least in regard
to the natural sciences and medicine, fortunately been dispersed in
Germany too long for a favorable reception of Hahnemann's works.
His disciples and adherents excepted, most medical authors and
physicians, from the first promulgation of his doctrine down to the
present time, have agreed that no apology could be offered for a
man who boldly endeavours to destroy all that is rational in
medicine, in order to substitute for it the rudest empiricism ever
practised, and who had made, in his Organon and other works, a
multitude of assertions and suggestions, totally at variance with
common sense and w r ith all the laws of nature, confirmed by the
experience of centuries. We remember a review, published many
years ago, in which the author asserted, that Hahnemann could
have written his Organon only to revenge himself on the whole
profession in return for their contempt of his Arcana.* The fact
is, that we know of no work pretending to be scientific, and pub-
lished within the last or present century, which is more crowded with
contradictions, falsehoods and absurdities than Hahnemann's Or-
ganon, this treasure of the homoeopathists, this " great result of
twenty years investigation," which Dr. Hering compares (see page
9,) with the discoveries of a Galileo, a Harvey, a Columbus! This
is obvious, not only to every well educated and judicious physician

* We candidly confess we believe it to be so, particularly sinfe he published his last
work on chronic diseases ; though there are some pathognomonical symptoms of cra-
ziness observable in him, especially in those passages where he really speaks of his
doctrine as a fanatic false prophet does of his new revelation. Thus, he says of his
doctrines, on page 7, vol. iii., of his materia medica, " ignea inest ill is vis et crelestis
origo," "they possess a fiery power, and come from heaven." In a scientific view no
regard should be paid to his motives ; and his expressions are interesting in a moral
view only, as being or not being a part of his old public impositions. " Multum inter-
" est utrum peccare quis nolit aut nesciat." — Seneca.

Hahnemann was too good a scholar, too well educated in his profession, his
doctrine originated at too mature an age, when such fancies as his are generally no
longer the product of an exalted imagination, and last not least, his whole life was
too much calculated for the promotion of his own interest, to reject entirely the
conjecture of the reviewer mentioned. Should it be true, and should he, feeling his
departure from this world of vain deception to be near, be conscious of his entering
the world of bright unclouded truth, we would wish that he might secure to himself a
better place in the history of medicine, by informing posterity of his true opinion, and
of the steps which he took to prove to what extent the grossest errors and illusions
can still be palmed upon so many. We sincerely wish that he may still live long, but a
confession of this kind would be of much more value to the profession and to man-
kind, than if even the tenth part of all his suggestions were true.

20

who has practised any length of time, but to any one who knows
how to read a book with attention, and can judge impartially.
We hope that the time is near when that book, at least, will be
accessible to the enlightened part of our professional brethren in
this country ; although it would be difficult for any faithful trans-
lator to preserve the vulgar style and tone which characterize this
and all Hahnemann's works. Even those who think well of some
of his tenets and suggestions, will admit the propriety of these
remarks on reading some of our faithful quotations from Hahne-
mann's books ; to quote all his nonsense, we should be obliged to
translate almost all his works.

Many entertain the erroneous opinion, (bat the homoeopathic
and other doctrines ofi Hahnemann affect only practical medicine;
and that they merely teach a new method of curing diseases,
which, like other medical methods, may sometimes be right, and
sometimes wrong. We shall endeavor to prove, that in adopt-
ing this doctrine in its whole extent, the very foundation of the
human intellect would be shaken ; and that all experience in the
whole range of natural philosophy, scarcely excepting that which
admits of a mathematical demonstration, would be much more
unsafe now than it was in the darkest ages of superstition.

The debasement of the healing art, by Hahnemann and his
followers, is obvious when we consider that they themselves state,
that homopopathia is not only totally independent of, and incom-
patible with all other medical theories ; but explicitly declare war
against all reason and experience, saying, (see C. V. page 15,) that
" all the learned lumber which theorists have been accumulating
" for two thousand years must fall to the ground." Indeed, if these
propositions be correct, and the medical profession, rejecting all
theoretical expositions, should rely only upon naked facts, this n'oble
science. would soon be carried back far beyond the age of Hippo-
crates, when medicine was practised only by priests in temples
and when after a person was cured of a disease, besides the offer-
ing made to the deity, and the presents given to the priests, tablets
were hung upon the walls of the temples, containing only the two
requisites of homceopathia ; the symptoms of the disease, and .be
simple remedy which proved successful, a time about which an
able medical author, two centuries ago, (Meibom. in Diss, de incu
bat. ^,) very correctly says, « tunc nun sanabat medicina, sed
aurfquid vulebatur sanasse era. medicina."- a. .ha. time medi

21

" cine did not cure, but whatever appeared to have cured was con
" sidered to be a remedy."

Although our author, in accordance with Hahnemann in some
passages of his works pretends, that great knowledge is requisite
for the homoeopathic practice, we appeal to any one whose judg-
ment is sound and not prejudiced by party spirit or interest, whe-
ther he can conceive that any science whatever is indispensable or
particularly useful to the homoeopathic practitioner, since a minute
knowledge of the symptoms of diseases, and of the properties of drugs
are amply sufficient to constitute a homoeopathic Doctor, and no
faculty of the mind is required except a good memory aided only
by perfect external senses. The faithful homoeopathist may also
possess all the great advantages of an accomplished education, if
this is compatible with homoeopathia, may be a great chemist,
anatomist, botanist, &c, in short, may be a true polyhistor ; but
all his knowledge is quite useless in respect to his vocation. To
an allopathisl, a name applied by Hahnemann to all physicians
who are not in favor of his doctrine — even the knowledge of a
common trade* would be more useful for his practice, than a fami-
liarity with anatomy ,t physiology, chemistry, &c. is to an homoeo-

* It is often highly important for the rational physician, relying more on the causes
of the diseases than upon their delusive symptoms, to know to what particular injury
an individual is exposed by his trade. The profession is much in need of a work si-
milar to that ofRarnazzini, "de Morbis Opificum," 1718, which shall detail those par-
ticulars, not only in respect to the new trades brought into existence during the last
century, but also to the changes produced by machinery, &c. in the old trades.

t It would appear almost incredible that in the nineteenth century there should be
Christian countries where the study of anatomy is restrained by laws, more worthy of
the superstition of the middle ages than of our times, while we see even the Turkish
Sultan and the Pacha of Egypt encourage its study, however much it is opposed to the
tenets of the Koran. There are some eminent men who can overcome those restric-
tions by their diligent study and extraordinary talents ; but the profession at large can
never attain the requisite perfection without the most liberal provisions for this
science, which must be considered as the key-stone of all medicine and surgery. The
opposition of the public to post mortem examinations in private practice, particularly
in rare cases, where examinations may be useful for the treatment of similar cases,
tends to retard the advance of science, and is also unworthy of the present age. The
corpse should justly be considered as a mere substance, doomed to decay, and as the
property of the human society at large, and not as a person. " Curatio funeris, conditio
sepulture, pompa exequiarum, magis sunt vivorum solatia, quam subsidia mortuorum,"
(Augustinus deCiv. c. 12.) It may here also be not improper to allude to the prevalent
prejudice, that the healing art rests mostly on its practical branches, and that, if suf-
ficient provisions are made for these, the profession and the public will be more bene-
fited than by promoting its theoretical sciences. It is a prejudice by which the most
talented young students of medicine lose the best opportunity of really attaining a
high standing in their profession, and are forced to remain, for ever, common routiniers.
A country which provides in the best manner for the study of anatomy, physiology,
chemistry, and for the other branches of theoretical medicine:, without the least pro-
visions for observing the treatment of patients, would soon possess ten times as many
distinguished physicians and respected medical authors, than another country which
provides amply for 'lie promotion of practical instruction in hospitals and almshouses,

22

patbist, although Hahnemann in his Organon (see p.p. 184 andjlSS,
4th edit.) urges particularly a due regard to the pursuit of the pa-
tient, more however with a view to promote the interest of the phy-
sician by making him intimately acquainted with family secrets,
than with the intent of influencing a treatment, which, according
to his doctrine of the origin and treatment of all chronic diseases,
must always depend upon the removal of one and the same cause.
But we wish seriously, that any homoeopathist would explain to
us of what use anatomy is to him, since, if he confines himself to
medical practice, he can observe all the imaginable symptoms of
the diseased state in the sense of his doctrine, without even the
first rudiments of that science ? Physiology, a science of which
Hahnemann himself could never have had any sound conception,
is so much crowded with hypotheses, conjectures, and " learned
lumber," that it must appear to a homoeopathist very faticiful and
useless. Chemistry, in the eyes of the great genius, so " over-refined
" in our age," and so defective, that the properties of the most com-
mon substances, the solubility of flint and sulphur in water for
instance, or their transmutation into infinite spirits by their re-
moval " from place to place in a fluid state," remained hitherto
unknown to all the chemists of both hemispheres; mineralogy,
botany, &c. are still more unnecessary to him, because others may
collect the plants and simples, he himself being only obliged to
dilute and rub them down, " secundum artis magicee leges," and he
must indeed do so if he attends but a few patients daily, as so many
hours are required to learn all the symptoms and all the minutiae
of the patient's whole life, and as (see p. 25 C. V.) " the advan-
tages of short visits and quickly writing a recipe," " cannot be
" reconciled with homoeopathia." Although the author of the con-
cise view tells us (page 21) that his master recognises the anato-
mical and physiological sciences as by all means indispensable,

but pays but little regard to the theory. This may easily be proved by the low standing
of the original medical literature of such countries, and by their necessary dependance
on foreign literature. It may be asserted with the greatest propriety, that no science
requires more the minutest study of its theoretical branches than medicine, since
none admits of a greater variety of individual cases, the proper treatment of' which
depends mostly on general principles ; for otherwise the old intelligent nurse would
be the best physician, and the oldest herb-collector the greatest botanist. Prac-
tical acquirements are easily and quickly obtained in all scientific pursuits, where
sound principles previously derived from a close study of their theory, are combined
with natural talent, but not the reverse. Thus a man, thoroughly acquainted with
geometry, trigonometry, and the other branches of pure mathematics, will learn in n
few weeks, by himself or by a practical teacher, to be a good surveyor, whilst a merely
practical man, without such acquirements, will never become eminent in his vocation
and will never be able to compete with the other in extraordinary cases

23

and admits the general study of the prevailing systems of medi-
cine, on account of the historical knowledge and controversies with
other physicians, still we do not see the least advantage which
either the homoeopathist or his patients could derive from such
" learned lumber." It is even prohahle that in regard to contro-
versies with allopathists, if such " murderers" should continue to
exist, contrary to the prophecies and hopes of the homoeopathisls ;
the latter will be as unfortunate as their great master, who, not suc-
ceeding in his controversies, at last concluded that he alone knew
better in what the healing art consists, than all the professional
men from Hippocrates down to his age, and that it never was, and
never will be, necessary to be acquainted with any thing but the
symptoms of natural diseases, and of those artificially produced in
healthy persons by drugs, to perform the greatest, safest and most du-
rable cures. (C. V. page 28.) It is evident how easily this knowledge
can be acquired by any body who, perhaps unfitted for any other
occupation, finds it convenient to make his living in this very
commodious and pleasant manner. What an enviable situation
such a worthy priest of iEsculapius has, in comparison with the
industrious sturdy mechanic who, after serving an apprenticeship
of four or five years, must expose his life and health all day to earn
what the former can obtain in an hour without the least bodily or
mental exertion ! No wonder that this " new art of healing" now
attracts those who, like many young people in our times, wish to
reap without incurring the trouble and pains of ploughing and
sowing, and that many are anxious to adopt this marvellous
doctrine, even in countries where the degree of M. D. and the pri-
vilege of guarding the life and health of mankind, are conferred in
less than a third of the time demanded by a cobbler for an apprentice
of his trade. We could name instances where men without the
least knowledge of medicine have been taught and declared qua-
lified for practice, by a German homoeopathist in this country, in
less than three months; and it is well known to many professional
men here, that an American homoeopathist, who has also usurped
this privilege, was prevented only by the conflicting interests of
others from continuing to confer the degree of M. D. on those, whom
he alone considered as worthy to practise according to the rules
of this new " Art of Healing." The study of the history of me-
dicine also recommended by Hahnemann, would rather appear to
lead a man astray from the paths of homoeopathia and injure

24

himself and his patients; because, it would impair bis allegiance
to the infallible doctrines of Hahnemann, who, in .many passages
of his works, explicitly forbids any reasoning on homoeopathia,
and demands of his disciples and followers more implicit faith,
" without doubting, reasoning, interpreting or philosophizing
" upon them" (see these expressions in Archiv fuer Homoeopatische
Heilkunde, Vol. IX. No. 3, and in Chron. Krankheiten,Vol.I.p.2l3),
than any orthodox or other religious creed requires of its confessors.
Moreover all records in the history of medicine of the cure of dis-
eases, in a manner different from his, are, according to Hahne-
mann, entirely false, and even one single speedy and permanent
cure among hundreds of patients by the physicians of all ages,
has been performed only by mere good fortune. (See Organon,
p. p. 95 and 96.) The true history of the healing art begins with
him — " cjui se unus sapientem profited sit ausus (Cic. de fin.),
and has, in his own time, and by the exertions of himself and his
adherents, attained its highest degree of perfection ; and all that
appears to be left to posterity, is to observe a few more symptoms
and to institute a few more trials with drugs!* It appears obvious
that, if according to this new doctrine, the healing art can be so
easily acquired by any body who can read, the public will find it
quite superfluous to apply to the privileged class of physicians, as
soon as the homoeopathic text-books, the symptom-and-drug-
sickness-dictionaries are accessible to them. All dibits of the
homceopathists, who now appear to act in a body for the purpose
of obtaining exclusively medical practice, and send missionaries
to all quarters of the world to preach the new medical gospel in
the unrivalled manner of the author of " A Concise View," will
be unable to prevent this ; particularly if we consider the confi-
dence required of the patients, to submit to the minute and often
indelicate cross-examination of a homoeopathist (see Organon, p. p.
183 and 184), in order to ascertain where a small wart or a pimple

* As a little specimen of the extraordinary modesty and meekness of Hahnemann
" who had himself never assumed an offensive attitude," as Dr. Hering asserts, we
quote here the following remarkable words of Hahnemann in the preface to his' Or-
ganon: " It must be admitted that the true art of healing begins with me."

In order also to prove that our opinion of the requisites of a homoeopathic physician
is not erroneous, we quote here Hahnemann's own words on this subject ; after ex-
plaining the mode of recognizing a disease, he says in his Organon, p. 76 : « This
examination of an individual case, of which I have given only a general sketch, and of
which the examiner (retains only what is applicable to the case before him, demands
nothing but freedom from prejudices, perfect senses, attention in observing, and fidelity
in describing the disease."

25

may be located, <fcc., (see c. v. p. '22,) and which, however, is useless
in most cases, since Hahnemann himself commands his followers
not to rely upon the statements elicited by those severe examina-
tions, if the result contradicts his latest axioma laid down in his
marvellous work on chronic diseases — viz. that ail such patients
must be considered as itchy (see Organon, from p. 177 to 188,
ami in different places of the Treatise on Chr. Dis.) If we add
to this, that many external diseases, generally considered as ob-
jects of surgical treatment, such as aneurism, necrosis, fistula ani
and others (see Organon, p. 12), nay ! even hernia inguinalis no
longer require any surgical aid (see Chron. Dis. Vol. I. p. 188), the
whole profession may soon be dispensed with. — It would really
almost appear that Providence, having in her eternal wisdom and
mercy inflicted mortality and painful diseases upon the human
race, had now blessed mankind with a Hahnemann, who so rea-
dily teaches his infallible healing art to the most stupid as well as
to the wisest of men ! Henceforth, the well educated physicians,
these murderers of their fellow-men, with all their " learned
" lumber, accumulated during two thousand years," are unnecessary;
the human intellect and imagination, and the talents of thou-
sands, hitherto squandered for nothing but professional mischief
and injury, may be exercised for other and more worthy purposes ;
in medicine they have been and will be of no value whatever !
Who would be so stubborn, so heartless and abject, as not to hail
such as a golden age, an age in which mankind has obtained
blessings of more value than half of the long desired millenium,
when,

" The dumb shall sing, the lame his crutch forego,
And leap exulting like the bounding roe." — Pope.

But alas! such prophecies, like those of the author of the Concise
View, (seec.v. pages 28 and 29,) and his brethren, are utterly whim-
sical and false. Samuel Hahnemann, as we shall endeavor to prove
hereafter, with all his fanciful productions and atoms of drugs, has
not yet found one atom of the philosopher's stone. Some informa-
tion and useful suggestions may be selected from the immense
rubbish of his works, and may, if rightly appreciated, contribute to
pave the way for a new and better era of practical medicine,
which is so very much needed ; but as homceopathia stands at
present, we can only consider it compounded of the grossest errors

4

26

and falsehoods ever palmed upon the public, either by a morbid
imagination and ignorance, or by intentional imposition.

From these general characteristics of Hahnemann and his
works, it may easily be seen, why this new prophet and his doctrine
remained so long unnoticed in his native country, and are still
either disregarded or despised by her professors and physicians of
repute. With the exception of Dr. Kopp, of Hanau, of whom we
shall say a few words hereafter, not one distinguished professor,
author or practitioner in Germany has, to our knowledge, hitherto
declared in favor of homoeopath ia. With the exception of Hahne-
mann's disciples and adherents, who were not known in medical
literature before they followed this doctrine, Dr. Hering, with his
brother homoeopathists cannot name a single one. The remarks
on page 17, of his Concise View : " but day by day new adherents
" were acquired, and mostly among the old practitioners, a pheno-
''menon, in new systems, entirely unheard of," is, therefore, a gross
error. His statements, however, on the same page, in regard to
several individuals of distinguished rank and reputation, not phy-
sicians, are correct. In many countries, we find some who admire
and follow Hahnemann's doctrines, until they have paid by the
loss of their own health or life, or by that of their relatives and
friends, for trusting in homoeopathic treatment, or for believing, that
the healing art is now rendered easily accessible to every one,
merely by studying homoeopathic text-books for a few months ;
since they think, that excepting a minute knowledge of homoeo-
pathic disease — symptoms, and their corresponding drug — symp-
toms, all professional acquirements are, altogether, mere trash. We
know that in every age and country, and individuals in every class
of society have been eager to play the physician, whenever they
could, although they have formerly been aware of the long and
careful study usually required by the profession ; it is therefore not
strange, that by the immense facilities offered by homoeopathia to
its votaries, many military men, merchants, tradesmen, and some-
times also a poet have raised their voices for this new doctrine, in
Germany ;* and, that it now may be said, with more propriety :

" Fingu»t se medicos omnes, idiota, sacerdos,
" Judaeus, monachus, histrio, rasor, anus."

* Most of our readers may find our description of the brilliant state of literature in
Germany, quite in contradiction with our statement in regard to even the slight success
of Hahnemann's works, and the more so, if we acknowledge that some well educated

27

Young physician?, attracted cither by the novelty of this medical
treatment, or too ignorant to succeed in the practice of rational
medicine, have embraced homojopathia ; some few, also, who are
well educated, adopt it as a fashionable money-making business,
and follow the practical, but dishonest maxim, " Mundus vult
decipi, ergo decipiatur."

The admiration of homceopathia among the classes just named,
attracted the attention of the two greatest German governments,
Prussia and Austria, and afterwards also of Russia.

The Prussian government, a few years since, ordered a public
dial of homceopathia to be made in the largest hospital of Berlin,
the Charite, by one of Hahnemann's disciples, particularly recom-
mended by him for that purpose. Although of the many hundred
patients in that hospital, he selected twenty-five cases, which he
considered most suitable for his experiments not one was cured.
As Hahnemann afterwards asserted that the incompetency of his
disciple must have been the only cause of failure, a second pupil
was dispatched by him to Berlin ; the same misfortune attending
his practice also, he was dismissed.

The experiments instituted by the Austrian government in a
large hospital at Vienna, were attended with the same results.
Dr. Herrmann, of Saxony, one of the oldest disciples of Hahne-
mann, and probably the same, whose name is quoted so frequently

young physicians and other gentlemen in Germany, have zealously adopted and
advocated this doctrine. But, among the many other peculiarities, which the native
country of Kepler, Leibnitz, Kant, &c, presents to the observing foreigner, he will
be surprised at seeing occasionally, productions totally unworthy of the elevated
standing of her literature which still abounds, as it has for centuries, in master works in
all arts and sciences; similar to the overrich soil, which in producing its gigantic syca-
mores, luxuriantly favors likewise the growth of many common weeds. Those
foreigners who, ignorant of the German language, seldom become acquainted with
distinguished German savans, and with the philosophical spirit which pervades the
well educated classes of German society, and those who merely travel through that
country, will with equal propriety consider it to be, in several respects, still many
centuries behind the present age, whilst in others it has advanced many centuries
before most other countries. Those, only, who have for a long time minutely ex-
amined the state of literature and arts in Germany, will be convinced that it may justly
be considered in that respect as the modern Greece, though the general education of
the people has not advanced in proportion to its advancement in other countries ;
notwithstanding the most praiseworthy exertions of the different governments, and
particularly of Prussia, to improve it. The opinion of Americans of the medical
profession in Germany, when formed from the German barbers and druggists, who on
coming to this country borrow or assume the title of M. D., would be as erroneous, as
would be that of the (Jrrmans, if overlooking the distinguished merits of Physick,
Barton, Mott, Hosack, Francis, Warren, and others, they should judge of the Ameri-
can medical profession from the shoemakers and schoolmasters, who have turned
homceopathists, or from the clerks and farmers, who after attending medical lectures
for eight months have been awarded with a medical diploma

28

n the experiments described in Hahnemann's materia medica ; was
expressly sent for by the Russian government, to try the new
method in a military hospital ; being completely unsuccessful, he
was dismissed, and the homoeopathic practice was entirely pro-
hibited in all the Russian military hospitals. For the sake of
experiment an equal number of patients, and so far as could be
ascertained by -minute examination, quite similar to those under
the care of Dr. Herrmann, were at the same time publicly treated
by Dr. Giggler, surgeon-general of the Russian army, methodo
expectativa, or by mere diet, without administering any medicine,
and the result was similar to that obtained by the homoeopathic
treatment of Dr. Herrmann, (see Hecker's Annalen der ges.
Heilk. December, 1832.)

The author of the pamphlet before us says, also, on page 17,
" It was carried to Naples, and in that kingdom obtained steadfast
" adherents." Whilst reading this, we fully expected to find this
statement incorrect ; we thought that Italy, the cradle of all modern
civilization and the native country of a Baglivi,aMorgagni, a Scarpa,
&c, where the medical profession holds still as high a rank as in
any other land, could not disgrace herself by the adoption of such
a superstitious and rude empiricism as homoeopathia presented to
her. We were not mistaken ; for the statement of Dr. Hering has
been contradicted in toto, by a long and very interesting letter,
directed to Dr. Hufeland, at Berlin, and lately published in the
Heidelberger Annalen, (vol. viii., No. 3, for 1832.) The dis-
tinguished editors of that journal, Professors Chelius, Naegele, and
Puchelt, of Heidelberg, and Professor Harless, of the University of
Bonn, assert, that the writer of that anonymous letter, is not only
an accomplished physician, but an author of the highest standing
in the profession, and of strictly veracious and honorable character.
It results from this letter, that in Naples, Rome, and other Italian
cities, no physician can now express himself in favor of homceopa-
unless it be at the risk of his reputation, in consequence of the
number of failures, and even deaths, which have attended the
practice of one of Hahnemann's disciples, and of some enthusiastic
young Italian physicians. The homcropathist who introduced
this practice at Naples, although an ignorant Bohemian barber,
enjoyed the splendid patronage of the commanding Austrian
general, to whom he was particularly recommended by Hahne-
mann. The public as well as some talented young physicians,

29

who embraced homceopathiawith so much zeal, awoke from their
illusive credulity, but not until the general, with many other per-
sonages of distinguished rank, had died, or were injured by this
all-curing new healing art. We have not yet seen the reports in
favor of homoeopathia from " the sanguinary gold coast, and from
Egypt, the land of monsters/' as stated by Dr. Hering, on page 18;
but we are willing to admit them as correct. — " Tot Galata, tot
" Pontus eat, tot Lydia nummis!" — In countries where medicine is
still in its infancy, and where medical practice is considered as a
common trade, rather than as a scientific art, and where powerful
prescriptions are administered with rash ignorance, homoeopathia
will best satisfy the credulity of the uneducated, and must be
regarded as a blessing, on account of its decided negativeusefulness.
We would, therefore, consider it almost a crime to weaken the con-
fidence of the people in the homoeopathic treatment, in countries
where the study of rational medicine is much neglected, and where
the health and lives of the public are endangered by the absence
of a protective medical police ; but it is morally certain, that any
thing is too dear, if purchased at the expense of truth or at the
risk of destroying the foundation of all rational sciences ; and
nothing is more injurious to the physical as well as the moral hap-
piness of men than superstition. Hence Bacon says, and correctly,
that even atheism is far less injurious than superstition: " Atheis-
" mus non prorsus convellit dictamina sensus, non philosophiam,
" affectus naturales, leges, bonse famae desiderium ; quae omnia,
"licet religio absesset, morali cuidam virtuti externae conducere
" possunt: ac superstitio haec omnia dejicit, et tyrannidem absolutam
" in animis execret." (See his Treatise de Superstitione.)

With regard to " the real triumph" of this new method of treat-
ing " the most violent and malignant forms of the Asiatic cholera,"
of which Dr. Hering says, on page 27 : " however varied were its
" forms in the different countries, and in different individuals, and
" as multiform and strange and malignant as it was, they cured as
" well in Russia as in Hungary, in Vienna and Prague as well as in
" Berlin, in Philadelphia as well as in Germany, with equal success.
" The most recent statements received from all quarters have bril-
" liantly established this ;" our accounts, however, vary much from
those of our veracious author, and, moreover, unfortunately for him
and his cause, they are even contradicted, by some of his homoeo-
pathic brethren, like many other accounts quoted by him. In the

30

very periodical which he values so highly on page 18, and which
may be considered as the trumpet of the homoeopathic propaganda,
viz. in the Archiv fuer Homceopathische Heilkutide, Vol. XII.
No. 1, &c, many of Hahnemann's disciples, and particularly Dr.
Schroeter, at Lemberg, in Poland, and several homoeopathic
practitioners, at Berlin, have declared, that the treatment of Asiatic
cholera, with camphor, as well as Hahnemann's other suggestions,
had proved utterly abortive in practice. Dr. Thummel, one of
the ward physicians of Berlin, during the prevalence of Asiatic
cholera in that city, has reported, that of the many cholera pa-
tients who were treated by homceopathists in his ward, only one
recovered, (see Berlin Med. Zeitung, 1832.) — It is really not a
little surprising, that our author, with his brother homceopathists
of this country, so confident of the infallibility of their treatment,
and of the positive and curative power of camphor in Asiatic cho-
lera, did not follow the praiseworthy example of the noble and
highminded French physicians, Drs. Bailly, Pariset and others,
who, for the sake of philanthropy and professional investigation,
went to places affected with the yellow fever and the oriental
plague, to ascertain the character and treatment of these fatal
diseases, without any specific or protective " real triumph" in their
pockets. The American homceopathists however, remained quietly
in their eastern residences, without hastening, from motives of
philanthropy and professional duty, or from really praiseworthy zeal
for the propagation of their infallible doctrine, to the unfortunate
countries of the west, where thousands fell victims to this scourge ;
although certainly none of the benevolent citizens of the other
states, would have denied them a liberal support if called upon,
in order to save the lives of their fellow citizens. This would
have been the proper occasion for them to prove their disinterested
humanity, and their implicit confidence in the pledge of their
great medical genius, Samuel Hahnemann, who, in his first
treatise on Asiatic cholera, prophesied, in the year 1831, " I hope
" that no body will henceforth die, to whom this treatment (with
"camphor) shall be applied early." — We are sorry to mention,
that, on (he contrary, we know of instances, where homoeopathic
physicians, attacked by cholerophobia, left their places of resi-
dence upon the approach of this dreadful epidemic, and did not re-
turn, until they could earn their dollars again, without exposing
their valuable lives and health ; which certainly proves anything

31

but confidence in the infallible protection and cure, promised by
their " illustrious" master, provided they have to stake any thing-
more than the paltry pains of a refined charlatanism. —
" The better part of valour is, discretion." — Shaks.

As an impartial critic we must however state that, according
to the latest accounts contained in German newspapers, some of
the governments there, have again noticed homceopathia, by or-
dering new trials of its treatment to be instituted. From this we
may infer, that there is no necessity for the particular protection
claimed by Dr. Hering from the American people in behalf of ho-
mceopathia, as for a distinguished demagogue who, forced to leave
his native country in distress, takes refuge in this free and happy
land. We, at least, have not heard any thing like the extremely
ridiculous story (on page 29, c. v.) that the "kings and princes
" of Europe, &c. impede the progress of the new art by processes,
" penalties and bayonets, their other and more important cares
" notwithstanding." On the contrary, as far as we know, " the
" old philosopher" reposes quietly upon his laurels in his high pon-
tifical see at Coethen, undisturbed by any military force.

We have already alluded to the causes which made many laymen
of rank in Germany partial for homceopathia. The last accounts
from thence (contained in the Allgemeine Zeitung) state, that
the chamber of deputies of Baden have resolved, almost unani-
mously, to have a special chair of homceopathia in the Heidelberg
university ; the same we are told was resolved by the Bavarian
government for the university of Munich. We may justly sup-
pose, that these respectable authorities have never minutely con-
sidered the bearings of homceopathia, otherwise it would be ex-
ceedingly foolish to consider the whole of any doctrine useful,
while its single parts consist of the most palpable nonsense. " An
" quidquam stultitius, quam quod singulos contemnas, eos aliquid
" putare esse universos?" (Cic. Tusc.) Nevertheless these revolu-
lutions prove clearly, that this doctrine is there considered quite
different from all rational medicine, since, if it were only a new
mode of the latter for curing diseases, it would be no more required
to establish a particular professorship for this, than it has been
hitherto necessary to appoint a professor exclusively for the systems
of Brown, Broussais, &c. or for any other new and different me-
dical theory ; these having always been left to the judicious consi-
deration of the professors of practical medicine, or of medical his-

32

tory and literature. We are told also by men upon whose veracity
we can rely, that new trials of homceopathia are contemplated in
some other capitals of Germany, in consequence of the wishes
expressed by many distinguished individuals in the armies and in
official stations, who have said they were cured by homceopa-
thists, after they had been long and unsuccessfully treated by
other physicians ; perhaps also, because Dr. Kopp, known as a
learned and experienced practitioner and author on legal and
practical medicine, has seemingly joined the homeopathic ranks.
The best medical periodicals, however, which have reached us,
scarcely allude to the existence of homceopathia ; whenever they
mention it, it is only to ridicule its frequent failures and the sin-
gular steps taken by its adherents.

Whoever deliberates on the great advantages which European
governments might easily derive, directly or indirectly, from this
new doctrine, willjgive them great credit for not embracing homceo-
pathia more anxiously, and not enforcing it long since, simply on ac-
count of their humanity and predilection for the promotion of truly
scientific education. Willing to gratify the public voice, whenever-
expressing itself in favor of objects, unconnected with politics, ho-
mcBopathia would have offered to them the best means to check
the progress of the human intellect, also in regard to their political
objects in view. For what could be better calculated to counteract
and to eradicate all reasonable or extravagant excitements for un-
restricted religious and political liberty, than credulity and super-
stition, particularly in regard to objects of such general and great
importance as health and life ? People who believe, that the noble
exertions of the most talented and learned men of all ages to un-
veil and discover the laws of nature, and to promote truth, have
led only to errors and mistakes in the first principles of all
sciences, and who are persuaded that, besides the great wonders of
nature which the human intellect endeavours to divest of its mi-
raculous features, there exist miracles at the disposal of men, will
be unquestionably more disposed to admit also the divine rights
bestowed by birth or by a sacred unction. Nations, infatuated
by an implicit belief in the miracles of magic and witchcraft, will
unquestionably submit more quietly to their fate, however op-
pressive it may really or apparently be, than strive to attain that,
which the history of all ages proves to them either more or less
abortive, or at least to be attainable only by those terrific dangers

33

which have always attended religious and political revolutions'*
The great advantages which the treasury and other important
branches of the government would derive from homcepathia, if it
should be found as certain and beneficial as Hahnemann and his
adherents assert, would prove still more, that the European gov-
ernments ought to have forced it long since upon their people,
even in opposition to the selfish obstinacy and low interest of the
dissenting allopathic physicians and apothecaries, who, after all,
constitute but a small part of the whole population. Hundreds of
millions of dollars would be saved, which have hitherto been
squandered by the learned fancy or the ignorant prejudices of the
pernicious class of allopathic physicians, for immense quantities of
costly drugs ; the great number of professors, appointed at heavy
expenses, for so much " learned lumber" would no longer be of
any use, as every one could attend to his own health by the aid of
his homoeopathic guide and a few shillings' worth of drugs.

In time of war, also, homopopathia would offer immense advan-
tages, not only by the facility with which large armies might be
victualled by the developed virtues of liquid and^solid nourish-
ment ; but also by preserving the lives of the soldiers not slain in
battle, who would otherwise be sacrificed by the murderous treat-
ment of allopathic physicians, (see C. V. p. 28.) The whole class
of military physicians might be dismissed, and a few ignorant
homoeopathic surgeons only would be required, especially if they
were assisted by a symptom-secretary, and a duly initiated drug-
triturator ; they might then also officiate as apothecaries, and thus
become medico-chirurgical fac-totums for a large army, of which
the whole drug store and laboratory might be contained in a small
chest, measuring only a cubic foot, and be easily carried, together
with the whole surgical apparatus, by a donkey. — "Misce stultitiam
consiliis brevem." (Hor.) — With such valuable advantages to the
European governments, to the public at large, to the wealthy and
the poor ; it is indeed astonishing that kings and princes have
been hitherto so short sighted, as not to promote the progress of
homoeopathia ! The humane and patriotic apprehensions for our
common native country, expressed by Dr. Hering, on page 29,
will, however, be appeased, at least for a short time ; for even the
opposition of the intelligent will there also promote its extension,
as this has always been found to be the most efficient mode of
making uneducated people still more partial for objects of credulity

34

and superstition, until sad experience has enlightened their dim-
sighted eyes. The celebrated author on demonology and witch-
craft says very correctly, "It has always been remarked that those
" morbid affections of mind which depend on imagination, are sure
" to become more common, in proportion as public attention is
" fastened on stories connected with their display." We may ration-
ally expect, that in Germany particularly, many more weak-minded
physicians will be seriously attacked by this mental influenza,
though not for a long time, as the benefits of profound erudition,
and especially of philosophical studies, will soon radically cure this
spiritual epidemic. "If Germany furnishes the bane, it gives us
" the antidote too," (c. v. page 6.) We merely hope and wish in
this case, not in a homoeopathic dose !

Our able author of the " Concise View," complains also on
page 16, of "the united intrigues of the apothecaries at Leipzig;"
(the literary emporium of the whole world, which for upwards of
four centuries has possessed a university, distinguished by its pro-
fessors in all sciences, and particularly in medicine,) and of " the
" laws which prohibit the dispensing of medicines by physicians,
" under a heavy penalty, and permit it only to the privileged
" apothecaries ;" and further, that these laws " were brought to
" bear against him. — Hahnemann, who always gave the simple
" medicine, in his entirely novel preparations, in which an extra-
'' ordinary care and accuracy were indispensable, could not pos-
sibly commit this labor, upon which the certainty of the result
'and the welfare of his patient depended, to the apothecaries; who
'' not at all familiar in such unheard of niceties, regarded the whole
" business as absurd, and whose pecuniary interests had to suffer
" thereby, quite as much as the pecuniary interests of the patients
" were benefitted." — We cannot conceive why Dr. Hering, provided
he has not yet forgotten the necessity of apothecaries for allopathic
practice, and provided he admits injustice, that unless "the great
truth" has been generally adopted, the regulations suggested by
him on page 4, "to render their entire profession superfluous," could
not be anticipated,— we say, we cannot conceive why he, himself a
German, objects to the old regulations above quoted. Among the
many wise laws of the German governments, which partly com-
pensate for the restrictions of religious and political liberty, we
must consider those as most beneficial, which are passed for the
liberal promotion of the sciences and arts, and more particularly

35

for the protection of the lives and health of their people by a strict
medical police. It is difficult to explain, why republican govern-
ments of the present age, are so anxious to protect by law all other
property of their citizens, while they leave almost unprotected the
most valuable and irreparable kind of property, life and health.
This cannot, of course, be an inevitable consequence of reasonably
unrestricted liberty itself, as the most trifling violation of laws and
privileges, are often more severely punished there, than in monarchi-
cal governments. We see, for instance, that in such a republican
country, a farmer runs the risk of having his entire market stock
of butter confiscated, if half an ounce or less is wanting to the
pound, perhaps by carelessness only ; although every citizen would
prefer to be wronged in this and in similar trifles, which moreover
he may easily prevent, rather than risk the lives of his family by
the ignorance and carelessness of an uneducated physician or
druggist. In some European countries, and especially in Germany,
the laws on these points are very strict, and are beneficial in pro-
tecting the health of the public: it is therefore particularly strange,
that our author, as a German of professional education, should find
fault with such salutary regulations. We are sorry to observe in
this a new proof, that even men of talent, and perhaps unobjection-
able moral principles, when influenced by fixed ideas and parly
spirit, loose sight of every thing, even of that which must injure
their own reputation, bringing upon themselves the odium of their
indiscreet and unjust degradation of a highly respectable class of
their countrymen. A publica accusation from any other person, that
the labor of composing simple medicines could not possibly be com-
mitted to German apothecaries, because they are not at all familiar
with such unheard of niceties, and because it would interfere
with their pecuniar]/ interests, should appear ridiculous and puerile
even to a German homoeopathist, as he must know, that before
an apothecary in Germany is examined as an assistant, or has a
licence granted to him, he must exhibit proofs of a classical edu-
cation, and of a course of study for at least five years ; that he
further has to bind himself by an oath, and under heavy penalties,
to prepare with the utmost exactitude and nicety the prescriptions
of every regular physician, unless it appears to him evident, that
the dose prescribed is dangerously large, and might be a written
error of the physician, of whom be is then bound to inquire about
it; a case which could never happen to homo^opatbists who pre-

'AG

scribe such infinitely small doses.* This outrageous abuse of an
entire class of respectable^ men by Dr. Hering, is paralleled only by

*In some, of the German States, for instance, in Hessen-Cassel, the government is
so excessively anxious to trust the apothecary business to such men only, as are con-
stantly in the practice of it, that even those who have fulfilled all the requisites of the
law, but have remained idle, or have embarked in another occupation for two years
only, must, in order to obtain a second licence for the practice of pharmacy, subject
themselves again to a new and rigorous examination, in which some chemical pre-
parations are required to be made. The importance of the subject demands a few
farther remarks. If we except a few common medicines, no physician can rely upon
the genuineness of drugs in this country, at least to our knowledge and experience;
though there are some very distinguished chemists and pharmacopolists among the
immense number of, so called, apothecaries. The principal reason is, that in most of
the States any body, however ignorant, can open a drug-store, and compete with the
best educated and faithful apothecary ; the latter, instead of making his living honestly,
would thus be obliged, by competition, to sacrifice many hundred dollars yearly by
keeping a good store of genuine drugs and other preparations, many of which are
decomposed or spoiled in a short time ; and as he is not indemnified by a regular set
of customers, he is obliged to regard cheapness much more than genuineness ; and
even as the only means of subsistence. This is, also, the reason why many wholesale
druggists, in large American commercial cities, to our knowledge, deal only in the
cheapest kind of drugs for inland consumption, and refuse to purchase at a high
price, genuine drugs, except they can export them, at good profit, to Europe ; con-
vinced by repeated experience, that their high prices would prevent their sale here.
This fact explains why, in a country where labor is so dear, a compound medicine
is generally cheaper than one of its ingredients would be if it were good, for instance,
lunar caustic is much cheaper than the weight of silver which it should contain when
pure ; and, also, why a pulverized drug is often sold for less than one half the price of
the crude but unadulterated article, as we have often experienced. Can it well be
expected from a common uneducated retail druggist, who has to pay high for his rent,
and for so many requisites to make his establishment fashionable and elegant,
and who of course intends to make as much money as possible, that he will keep
genuine drugs, or such as are seldom asked for, and that he will pay the highest
prices for drugs, which he frequently can purchase for less than one-third what the
best kind would cost him; as he is not subject to any law or control, which would
oblige him to keep only the best articles on hand'! The public cannot judge of drugs
as they can of bread and other articles of food and drink when in good health ; the
law, therefore, should protect them as much as possible. The injury to the public
must be evidently incalculable, when we consider that the degrees of adulteration
are very numerous, while the statements or directions of the medical profession are
always based on the genuine article. It is revolting for every honest and conscientious
physician, to see publicly offered for sale, at different prices, the most important drugs,
when every patient confidently hopes, to have at least the best drug administered to
him. If we consider how often a few drops of stale or adulterated wine injure a
patient, we may easily comprehend that drugs, which, when properly prepared, are
beneficial, become highly detrimental by the least alteration or adulteration. 'The
preparation of many medicines, particularly of narcotic extracts, depends so much on
minutiae and on their freshness, that one grain may be beneficial, and a drachm of no
effect at all ; hence it must be considered a defect even in European countries, that
all those preparations which vary so much by the time of collecting the plant,' pre-
paring the medicine, &c, particularly the extracts of narcotic indigenous plants, are
not entrusted to one central institution, from which all druggists of a large city or
county are bound to draw their supply. By this, also, much more uniformity in
regard to the effect of pharmaceutical preparations would exist, instead'of which one
physician now considers a medicine highly valuable, while another regards it as useless
The want of good medicines in one country, compared with another, is frequently
the only cause why highly valuable experiences of the profession in the one are
frequently lost or ridiculed in another. If, for instance, a well educated American
physician, not in favor of homoeopathic conceptions, should read in a German treatise
of six drops of laudanum in a mixture of six ounces, he would smile at such a dose of
laudanum, because he is accustomed to prescribe sixty and more in the same quantity
Of mixture. The German would, in return, consider an experiment with such a

37

the greatest absurdity perhaps ever printed in this country. On
page 13, of his "Concise View," we read, "He (Hahnemann,)
" discovered a mode, by which one drop could be accurately divided
" into tiny desirable number of parts." Any one will admit that
it would be difficult to find in the United States a school-boy, who
if possessed of a sound mind, and familiar only with the first rules
of arithmetic, would be for a moment at a loss, to find out instan-
taneously the great discovery, proclaimed with so much emphasis
as if worthy of a Leibnitz, a Newton, or Legendre, viz : how one
drop of any solution of a drug or another soluble substance is to
be divided by water or alcohol into T ^-, T _i__ r any similar
fraction ! And yet, with all these frothy pretensions, this great
problem is even not solved correctly. The same boy could un-
questionably prove to such great dealers in "trifles and unheard
of niceties," that with all their mystifications, they are ignorant
even of the first rules of arithmetic, for if one grain of an extract
be dissolved in a hundred drops of alcohol ; and one drop of this
solution be diluted by another hundred drops, we have one hundred
and one drops, and one drop of the last dilution will contain with
all their shakings, not as stated in the Concise View, page 12, the
toVoo but the ToToe P art of a grain of the extract, and thus

quantity of laudanum extremely dangerous, and if he would prescribe twenty drops
only, he would find the American statement about the cure of a disease false, thouoh
it was true and repeatedly confirmed by minute observations. The only reason is
that the German apothecary is in duty bound to prepare the laudanum exactly ac-
cording to the prescription of Sydenham, its first inventor, whereas in this country the
apothecary being under no legal obligations, but at liberty to keep, to prepare and to
sell what and how he pleases, this indispensable medicine is generally nothing but a
poor solution of the worst kind of opium in common brandy, which, in many in-
stances, especially in diseases of children, injures almost as much by the quantity of
brandy as of opium. No wonder, therefore, that many American druggists can sell an
ounce of such miserable stuff, the vial included, for a sixpence, though, if made
exactly according to the prescription from the best ingredients, one ounce would cost
the druggist himself at least upwards of two shillings. It is difficult to procure, even
in large commercial cities like New York and Philadelphia, small quantities of drugs,
considered by the profession in Europe as very valuable, and even as indispensable •'
and most of the American physicians, and even the professors, must therefore re-
main ignorant about their use. Musk and castoreum moscoviticum for instance for
which the poor Germans pay higher than for gold, because experience has taught them
for more than centuries, that in many diseases, especially of children and women as
for instance in asthma spasmodicum Millari, typhus fever, nervous affections &c.
their place cannot be substituted by any other drug. Many distinguished physicians
of this country, consider however both as obsolete and valueless ; and even Professor
Cox of Philadelphia, who has taught materia medica for so many years, continues to
assert in the 8th edition of his Materia Medica, published 1832, that musk is an obso-
lete drug, not worth more than other kinds of dried animal excrements, likewise
recommended by old authors as medicines. No wonder! lor he, together with Pro-
fessor Bigelow, who in his Materia Medica, considers also musk and castoreum as
superfluous, have probably never used them when genuine, and have neverseen them
applied by others, though many distinguished English authors, such as Cullen, Robert
Wnyte, &c, have recommended them highly.

38

continued, the 6th dilution for instance, does not contain
T« «o oo oV o oo oo M to 0T5 2 oTsTe 0T0 » part of a grain ; making a
difference of the tosTsttoso ooooo P art °f a g iam — a monstrous,
nay perhaps homicidal error to the unfortunate patient of a
full-blooded homoeopathist ! — now this error increases so im-
mensely in the 10th, 20th, or even 60th dilution, that the lives of
an immense number of patients may be endangered ! This
shocking error, committed by Hahnemann in the first edition of his
Organon, published in 1810, will still be observed in its last edition
of 1829, and in his other works. The fact, that none of his dis-
ciples or adherents have as yet observed or altered these prescrip-
tions, may be considered as a very striking proof of the implicit
faith of men in the tenets of their master, be they ever so absurd.
Although we do not claim any minute knowledge of deep ma-
thematical calculations, we feel it our professional duty to teach
homceopathists, how to avoid in future such palpable and important
mistakes, by the following formula, the substance of which is,
that they should always add only ninety-nine drops, instead of a
hundred, after the first solution is made, and the same should be
observed from the beginning, if one grain of a drug is to be
rubbed down with sugar of milk. Taking x equal to one grain
of the extract, and n equal to the intended degree of dilution, the
whole progression of the different dilutions, rising in their de-
veloped virtue, would then present the following formula : first

solution, or x is equal to — , second dilution or ,r 2 = — , third
1U' 10 4

dilution or x 3 = __,... . n th dilution or x n = to : or each

10 6 10 2ra

desired dilution contains a fraction of the original grain of the

extract, equal to one divided by the power often, double the index

of the degree of the solution. By following their above stated

wrong calculation, of always adding a hundred drops to their first

dilution, x n contains a quantity equal to D art

1 y ' 10* (10* + I)"- p

of a grain ; the general formula of this progression would pie-
sent the first solution or a? 1 , equal to second solution or r~ =

1 10 2

third solution or x" =

)0 2 (10 2 + 1) 10 2 (10 2 +J) 2 ' ' ' '

n th dilution or .r" = - -—- . The formula for trilurat-

10 2 (10 2 + l) nl

39

ing can l>e easily deduced in the same mariner.* Still greater
errors will be found in Hahnemann's works, utterly inconsistent
witli his whimsical dilutions and triturations, as we shall state
hereafter, although he calls (Vol. I. Chron. Dis. p. 2), homoeopathia,
" the great gift of God," and according to Dr. Hering, (on page 21,
C.V.) "he urges upon his pupils the propriety of addicting themselves
" to close thinking by the study of mathematics." But we can-
not reconcile the necessity of thinking at all, and much less of
" close thinking," with the homoeopathic doctrine and practice,
both of which, as we have seen, depend, according to the suggestion
of Hahnemann himself, only upon good senses and a good me-
mory, in addition to implicit faith in his dictates. We must,
however, approve of this wise advice, provided the "great genius"
is not so ignorant in modern mathematics, as he is in modern che-
mistry. It appears almost, that he confounds this mother of all ex-
act sciences, in its present state, with the " ars mathematica" of the
dark middle ages, which contained the most horrible superstitions
in magic, demonology and witchcraft, all of which he seems to
favor.

As to our author's complaints in regard to the obstacles Hahne-
mann met with, we must state to the contrary, that the king of
Saxony, as well as the city authorities at Leipzig, did in no way
interfere in his practice or that of his disciples, except requiring of
them to observe the laws passed long before, which prohibited the
dispensing of medicines by physicians. These were the more to be
enforced with regard to a man, who had exposed himself to pub-
lic contempt by his alcali pneum, and by his pretended secret pre-
ventive against scarlet fever, and who continued to involve his
practice in mystery, recalling the days of rude superstition, when
only the hands, consecrated by the high priest, were considered
adequate to dilute or rub down a grain of a drug. Besides, it was
but just and proper for the authorities at Leipzig, to protect the
respectable class of apothecaries, who cannot establish in Germany,
as they can in many other countries, a retail drug store without
the knowledge required for so important an occupation, and with-
out an ample pledge for their capacity to the public. It is only
after a strict theoretical and practical examination in chemistry,
pharmacy, botany, mineralogy, <fcc. that they are permitted to buy

* We have preferred the more usual power of ten, to that of one hundred, which
would have made the formula still more simple.

40

a privileged establishment, and the number of apothecaries is ju-
diciously limited in proportion to the population.* The apothecary
being bound to keep a large stock of the best drugs constantly on
hand, many of which are spoiled within a few weeks or months
and are therefore to be renewed at great expense, and obliged to
have a laboratory, chemical apparatus, &c, could not be indemni-
fied, even by a profit of a thousand per cent, nor could he make
his living honestly, without a considerable number of customers,
on whom he could confidently rely.

Nothing but his old predilection for arcana and nostrums, could
have prevented Hahnemann from writing his prescriptions ,as all
physicians are bound by law to do in Germany, and none but
one of his infatuated disciples could assert, that in a city like
Leipzig, there was no apothecary capable of being made " fami-
" liar in such unheard-of niceties," which any boy of twelve years
of age could perform satisfactorily. The laws against the dispens-
ing of medicines should be enforced with no physicians more than
with homceopathists, not to prevent their most innocent practice,
but to guard against all unnecessary mystery in a subject, which is
yet in all its features so opposed to the human intellect and to all
experience. It is evident that no physician, when he himself fur-
nishes medicines to his patients, can be held amenable to the
laws for any mal-practice, and that it is as satisfactory to every
honest physician, as it is to the public, to have deposited by his
prescriptions valuable documents of his circumspect, careful and
conscientious treatment, in the hand of a third party, the apothe-
cary, who is bound to preserve and to copy them. For if the
patient grows worse or dies, the relatives are at liberty to have the
prescriptions examined by impartial and competent judges, and
the physician likewise may rely on them at any time, for his de-
fence. How highly important are such regulations in a legal point
of view ; in a criminal case, for instance, where the physician is
suspected of having murdered his patient on account of his large

* In Berlin, for instance, the wealthy capital of Prussia, with a population of about
two hundred and fifty thousand, there are only twenty-eight apothecaries. On this
account retail drug-stores in large German cities, including the licence, which, for
public convenience, belongs to the building, cost from thirty thousand to upwards of
eighty thousand dollars. Once every year they are unexpectedly visited by a com-
mittee of magistrates and professional men, appointed by the government to examine
the genuineness and quality of the stock on hand, the laboratory, &c. Every error
or defect of importance, subjects the owner to serious reproaches, and by repeated in-
stances, by meddling with medical practice, or by the illegal sale of poisons, &c. he.
risks the loss of his privilege.

41

fortune or from other motives.* The ignorant and careless phy-
sician will he always aware of these checks, and the miser has
no opportunity to administer to his patients cheap drugs for which
he charges extravagantly, where expensive ones might have heen
required. The advantages which the medical sciences as well as the
public derive from the wise regulations mentioned, would be totally
lost; and no honest retail druggist could subsist in Germany, or in
any other country, where a strict medical police is considered in-
dispensable, if physicians should be permitted to dispense their
medicines themselves under any nugatory pretext. By the strict
maintenance of these laws, all danger and mysterious quackery
are removed, the health and life of the people are protected by the
occupations of the physician and apothecary being independent of
each other, and proper care can be taken by a vigilant medical
police, that both do their duty and that justice is done to them.
Let us for a moment even admit, that a homoeopathic physician,
cither regularly educated before adopting this " new art," or having
acquired it in a few weeks, (as was the case with an American
shoemaker who, tired of his trade, became, by the aid of a bene-
volent homoeopathist a doctor,) can cure most of his patients ;
still every honest homoeopathist, Hahnemann and Dr. Hering ex-
cepted, will admit that cases, be they ever so rare, may exist,
which will not yield to homoeopathic but to allopathic treatment. In
such a case, even the well educated homoeopathist, who is forced to
leave his usual practice, by adopting a method which he might have
forgotten, or at least have been unaccustomed to employ, may
resort to measures which can easily do great injury ; but if he is
obliged to prescribe his recipe regularly, he will be more careful,
and also be prevented from injuring the patient, by the control of
the apothecary. The history of the Asiatic cholera proves that
our apprehensions are not imaginary, but that in fact, where
homceopathists, who had been well educated in the principles of
rational medicine, and had adopted homoeopathia for a certain length
of time, were afterwards obliged to recur to the allopathic treat-
ment ; they prescribed medicines in much larger doses than were
ever approved of by any former school. Thus, if the homoeopa-
thic doses of camphor, recommended by Hahnemann as an infal-
lible cure for this disease, proved unsuccessful, they nearly deluged

* An instance of this kind happened a few years ago at Paris, and the suspected
physician was convicted and executed.

42

their patients with it. (See Allgem. Anzeiger &c, der Deutschen,
1831, No. 173, p. 2356 and Kopp L c.) What mischief may
then be expected from a man like our homoeopathic shoemaker,
in such cases, who is entirely ignorant of all the " learned lumber"
which is indispensable to the allopathic practice, if uncontrolled
by a well educated apothecary, who might prevent him from in-
creasing, to a great extent, the doses of the powerful homoeopa-
thic drugs, such as belladonna, nux vomica, arsenic, &c, as his
brethren did those of camphor, in the treatment of cholera 1

The self-dispensing of medicines appears to be an innate pro-
pensity, the very foible of all homoeopathists, from their master
down to the homceopathical doctors, barbers, shoemakers, &c.
No wonder ! if we consider, that it is extremely profitable to buy,
on commencing practice, about twenty dollars worth of drugs,
which may produce every year several hundred dollars profit, and
by adding annually a few dollars worth, may become a profitable
stock, sufficient even for the great-grandson of the disinterested
and benevolent doctor; undoubtedly far better than any stock
of a bank, a rail-road, &c, ever will be. We may well exclaim
with the author of the Concise View, on page 29, " a treasure like
" this new art must quickly be estimated in a degree commensu-
" rate with its real value."* This is probably one of the principal
reasons why most homoeopathists are so extremely anxious to
mystify the great art of homoeopathic triturations, dilutions and
shakings of their drug-atoms, which they only can perform well;
and though they willingly may renounce the old meaning of the
initials M. D. on account of the " learned lumber" still indispens-
ably connected with that signature in many countries, they are
anxious to preserve it probably in the sense of the signature of the
old Roman emperors, " Mauu Divina."

To prove further, that the quotations from Dr. Hering's '• Con-
" cise View," are iiot to be considered as a lapsus linguae, it being

* Excepting the little trouble of shaking or rubbing down the drugs, the smallest
coin in existence would pay many thousand per cent profit for any homcepathie me-
dicine, since one grain of any drug would be more than amply sufficient for the prac-
tice of a homoeopathist, even if he lived ten times as long as Methusaleh, and attended
daily thousands of patients. Generally, however, they make their patients pay very
high for medicines as well as for their services ; and we know of instances where ho-
moeopathists, being obliged to pi escribe a recipe in urgent cases, or where the patient
insisted upon their so doing, anxiously endeavoured to prevent the apothecary from
charging only a few cents for the medicine, as he might feel bound to do, but re-
quested him to charge half a dollar, apparently intending to avoid the suspicion of
their patients that the medicine was of no value, but in reality to make their usual
impositions of that kind less conspicuous.

43

originally delivered as a speech, but that he believes these ab-
surdities and would make them also credible by others, we refer in
addition to pages 12 and 13, where, in speaking of the high dilu-
tions, he says, " however striking this phenomenon was in itself,
" and however wonderful and strange it must have appeared to
'' Hahnemann, it nevertheless has been indisputably the result of
" his manipulations." Now, we ask any one of common sense?
whether this is not witchcraft, white magic, a kind of chiromancy,
&c. revived in optima forma? It is impossible to see such things
printed in 1833, without dreading that the grossest superstition
may again for a time eclipse the beams of reason. It is therefore
extremely creditable to the Austrian and Russian governments,
that they have not only published the abortive results of the ex-
periments with the homoeopathic treatment in the hospitals, but
have, as far as we know, forbidden its further application.

On examining more closely the homoeopathic doctrine, as con-
tained in Dr. Bering's " Concise View," which forms a faithful,
though very defective, abstract of Hahnemann's works, we know
not whether to be more amazed at his boldness in rejecting the
experience of the profession accumulated for upwards of two thou-
sand years, and constantly confirmed by the minute observations of
so many distinguished physicians, or to express the just indignation,
which every one must feel, who reflects on the nonsense, the in-
consistency and falsehood of the doctrine itself. The indispensable
reference to Hahnemann's works renders this task much more
difficult and tedious, as it is not sufficient to read only one edition
of one and the same work, but to compare its different editions, to
prove the gross retractions and contradictions published at different
times ; the tenets and prescriptions once maintained by him as
eternal truths, being afterwards even rejected as false by himself.

Dr. Stieglitz, private physician to his H. B. M. and president of
the medical college of Hanover, one of the most renowned medical
authors and practitioners of Germany, says very properly in his
last valuable work, (Pathologische Untersuchungen, 1832, Vol.11.
page 359), " No truly distinguished thinker or eminent physician
" has as yet joined with Hahnemann, or declared himself fa-
" vorable to the mass of nonsense contained in homoeopathia ; a
" doctrine which deserves no refutation, because it admits of
" none ; boasting of rejecting all scientific discussion, and deriving
" its only support from propositions, opposed to the foundation of

41

" all intellect and knowledge." The only exception to this state-
ment, which also contradicts the report of our author and his
brethren in this country, respecting the rapid spread of this doc-
trine in Germany, is Dr. Kopp, at Hanau, well known in Ger-
many as an eminent practitioner and an honest man, to whose
publications the profession is very much indebted. He states, in
the introduction to his latest work, (Erfahrungen und Bemerkun-
gen bey einer pruefenden Anwendung der Homoeopathie am
Krankenbette. Frankfurt, 1832.), that after studying diligently all
works belonging to the homoeopathic doctrine for two years, he had
subjected it to an impartial trial for about three years. Dr. Kopp
has taken the very ground, which Hahnemann and his followers
have constantly urged physicians to take, viz. experiments faith-
fully instituted ; he confirms the correctness of the homoeopathic
treatment by a comparatively considerable number of cases,
though by no means to the extent of the assertions of Hahnemann
and his party. In many instances he did not succeed, and was
obliged to recur to the allopathic method. He exposes the incon-
sistencies and whimsical conceptions of Hahnemann in a very
striking, though a lenient and even very superficial manner ; evi-
dently from his want of critical acuteness and depth of intellect ;
he appears also much influenced by the honour which he believes
he has conferred on this doctrine, as well as by the great credit
which he thinks due to him, being the first old medical author
of reputation in Germany, who had subjected this mode of treat-
ment to a trial and publicly confessed it. If this had not been
the case, he would not have considered so short a time, exclusively
spent in private practice, as sufficient for any certain opinion with
regard to a treatment, totally at variance with common sense,
with all rational principles and the experience of all ages. He
would have adverted more particularly to some remarkable results
of his experiments, obvious to the attentive reader of his works ;
for instance, that the homoeopathic treatment proved to him chiefly
effectual in chronic nervous complaints, which, as every physician
knows, is any thing but a certain test of the worth of a specific
treatment, since these complaints are frequently cured by mental
impressions alone, or by the simultaneous use of coloured pump-
water, bread pills, &c. Further, he always combined with the
homoeopathic treatment a strict diet, especially at the commence-
ment of acute diseases, and, nevertheless, in most of them he

45

could not dispense with the old rational or allopathic treatment,
In our opinion great credit is due to Dr. Kopp for his candor, but
not for his talent. He has proved again in this, as he did in his
earlier works on practical medicine, that he is incapable of an acute
philosophical investigation : this is obvious also by the whole em-
pirical tenor of this work, and even by its commencement, in
§ 1, where he suggests as an indirect vindication for homoeopathia,
" that the adoption of general indications (principles) has injured
il the practice of medicine." Who would deny that this is not only
true with regard to medicine, but, in a certain respect, more or
less applicable also to all sciences, which are not founded on the cer-
tainty of mathematical calculations. Should we, for this reason,
desist from trying to obtain general principles, and to free ex-
periments from the illusions of our defective senses, and from all
errors to which the human intellect has been and ever will be
subjected ? Should we therefore totally renounce the indispensable
and beneficial influence of our higher mental capacities in all ob-
jects not palpable or measurable, and, by despairing to find during
our short life what truth is, sanction mere empiricism, or trust to
phantoms of credulity and superstition ? It is true, Dr. Kopp's
frank explanation of his predilection for homoeopathia, appears to
render his statement still more authentic ; his love for truth must,
indeed, be very great, since, favorably prepossessed as he was, he
did not find every thing true in this marvellous doctrine. We may
credit the facts as he states them, as we would the assertions of
a man who, believing in the existence of ghosts, visits the church
yard at midnight to see them, but says there were none there.

No lover of truth can assert, that the doctrines of practical me-
dicine, erroneously termed systems, have either fully satisfied
the higher requisites and faculties of the human mind, or the ar-
dent and just wishes of the true philanthropist. Of what science,
or of what art, even if it depends much less on conjecture and
experience than medicine, can it be so truly said that, with
the immense treasures of all the natural sciences, of which me-
dicine is only a branch, and even with the great discoveries in
anatomy and physiology, &c. practical medicine stands before us
equally as uncertain, defective and chiefly dependent upon personal
talent, as it did two thousand years ago? Let us ask any judi-
cious and candid physician, if he himself should require profes-

46

sional assistance, and could choose from among all his colleagues,
from Hippocrates down to the present age, whether he would not
prefer the father of the healing art to any of his contemporaries,
though Hippocrates could not even anticipate the innumerable
later discoveries, any one of which would appear sufficiently im-
portant to advance medicine for centuries? Let him answer sin-
cerely, if at liberty to select from among the celebrated physicians
of the last three centuries, whether he would not at once prefer
a Sydenham, Fredrick Hoffman or Boerhaave to any physician
of the last twenty years, although these truly great men were
ignorant of hundreds of the most valuable discoveries, more or less
intimately connected with the healing art, and indispensable to
the medical practice of the present age ? It appears almost incre-
dible, but it is nevertheless true, that medicine, one of the most
important and fertile branches of natural science, in respect to its
theory, and constantly cultivated by thousands of intelligent and
well educated men, has generally remained unimproved in its
practical application, and has almost become more uncertain and
hazardous than before, whilst most other occupations have been,
and are still, daily benefitted by the rapid progress of all sciences
and arts. In this respect we are nearly forced to admit the re-
proaches of Hahnemann against practical medicine of all ages, if
we could but depreciate the high degree of perfection which theo-
retical medicine has attained, the great advantages which practical
medicine will amply derive therefrom, after abandoning rude em-
piricism and relying more upon true experience and philoso-
phical inquiry ; or if we could but reasonably admire an Heros-
tratus, because he destroyed one of the greatest wonders of human
art in antiquity, in order to secure himself a place in history, as
the author of homceopathia attempts with rational medicine.

The profession would be indebted to Hahnemann, not only for
the discovery of some new remedies and the specific actions of
some older ones on the human body, but also in general for his ex-
posing the common track of medical practice and urging the great
necessity of improving it, had he examined with genuine critical
talent and faithful love of truth, the hitherto prominent systems
and methods of practical medicine, and had he not wantonly endea-
voured to destroy all rational principles in this science and all learn-
ing belonging to it, in substituting for both, whimsical conceptions

47

and suggestions, drawn from a comparatively lew, detective and
partial experiments.*

* Our remarks in these pages, and many other facts may prove that our opposition to
homceopathia arises neither from orthodox partiality for any medical system, nor from
predilection for any particular mode of medical practice. Faithful homceopathists
excepted, ihere is hardly a professional man, engaged as we have been in an exten-
sive hospital, dispensary, and private practice for upwards of thirty years, who,
though faithfully selecting from all systems whatever appeared to him the most
useful, has pursued, more than ourselves, a mode, which in many respects would have
made him partial for the homoeopathic doctrine, if there had been any trace of com-
mon sense in it. In order briefly to substantiate our assertion, we would state, that
in the whole of our practice we have never prescribed six venesections, nor about fifty
emetics, nor five pounds of cathartic salts, nor five ounces of jalap, nor two bottles
of castor oil, nor one pound of Peruvian-bark in substance, and so in proportion to
other drugs which arc commonly used in large doses by physicians of all schools ; thus
also for instance, croup excepted, we have never prescribed more than three grains
ol calomel at a dose, and delirium tremens excepted, never more than three grains of
opium; though the above mentioned extent of our private practice alone, yielded at an
average, not less than fifty patients per day. We may say that, when some of our
colleagues scarcely reflected on drachms to be given, we weighed grains, and one
drop of laudanum more or less in a mixture of six ounces, or one grain of camphor
was an object of high consideration for us ; as experience has clearly taught us from
the beginning of our career, at the age of eighteen, that in no human occupation the
conceptions of smallness and largeness prove to be more relative than in practical medi-
cine, and that, to a certain reasonable extent, the smallest dose of a medicine may be
too large, the largest too small. We were therefore, also in favor of the most
powerful drugs, and of very large doses when smaller ones did no service, and our
patients were generally the best customers of the apothecaries. — We should plead
ourselves guilty of the grossest quackery, did we claim greater talents than others, or
boldly assert, that by our deviating so far from all methods of treatment, generally
adopted, we have always only witnessed its salutary effects. But we should feel
ungrateful towards the mercy of Providence, bestowed upon our exertions, and should
believe ourselves possessed of a too refined egotism, if, from misplaced professional
delicacy and from too anxiously avoiding the unjust reproach of public ostentation,
we should withhold the truth, which, in our present situation, can only be useful to
others, and to which many of our former respected colleagues at Altona and Hani-
burg, and the large enlightened communities of both those cities, will not refuse to
testify. We have reason to acknowledge with pious gratitude, that generally, the
results, of our treatment were'by no means behind those of others, but in many respects
distinguished by a comparatively short convalescence and durable health after re-
covery; results which are only observable when a physician has retained for a long
series of years the lame residence, and has enjoyed during so long a time the most
unrestricted confidence of many families. We may unconsciously possess prejudices
as all men do more or less, — homo sum et humani nil a me alienum puto — but in
doing justice to ourselves, we confess that we have always been particularly anxious
to destroy all those prejudices which might in any way influence our vocation ; being
aware that truth and error are not dependent upon authorities of men and upon the
majority of votes, nor upon the length of their duration ; that among all conjectural
sciences none is more uncertain and liable to prejudice, errors and mistakes than the
healing art, and that it might be more pardonable to any other than to a physician,
conscientiously reflecting on the important sequels of his arduous vocation, wilfully
to entertain prejudices, and to worship the suggestions of others, may they be ever so
much supported by delusive facts, in being opposed to his own judgment and his
l;i!thful experiments.

Our views of medical practice, however, agree with some of Hahnemann's fanciful
conceptions, not simply in attention to minutiae; for, upwards of thirty-five years ago,
when the cow-pox was first known as a preventive against small-pox, having been
actively engaged in vaccination, we opposed and have continued to oppose the errone-
ous mode of its propagation as generally adopted and hitherto pursued by the profes-
sion, from reasons similar in some respect, to the suggestions of Hahnemann. Our
repeated sad predictions, in private as well as in public, especially those made in a
treatise published 1S22, and entitled, "On the dangers of the measures hitherto
adopted for the propagation of cow-pox. — (Die (Jefahren der bisher befolgten Maas-

48

Having been for upwards of thirty years engaged in an extensive
public and private practice, we have attended closely to all that
lias happened around us in the profession, and we have at least
been anxious not to be prepossessed by any prejudice against any
suggestion from abroad, or from any source whatever, if it appeared
to us consistent with reason and experience. Educated in the old
gastric school, we commenced practice at a time when John
Brown's system of medicine was much admired and followed in
Germany. It appeared to us that this doctrine, though many of
its tenets had been alluded to long before by Friederich Hoffman,
Ernst Stahl and some other distinguished authors, was founded on
some highly important rational principles of physiology and pa-
thogeny. We however soon observed that, even with the great
changes and improvements made in this doctrine by eminent*
German professors in philosophy and medicine, it was too narrow
in its explanations of the conditions of human life during the
healthy and diseased states, and that most of our contemporaries,
who were then implicitly devoted to this doctrine, applied it without
impartial judgment, without due regard to the contradictory ex-

regeln zur Verbreitung der Kuhpocken,) have since been confirmed by many pro-
fessional men, viz: that the cow-pox, in itself a munificent gift of Providence, by its
unquestionable protection against the destructive small-pox, when pure and properly
managed, has become, by the negligence and carelessness of the medical profession and
the public authorities, one of the greatest scourges with which mankind was ever
afflicted ; for it has not merely ceased to be protective, but, if things continue as
they are, we may predict with great probability, that in less than half a century, almost
every one will be affected by one or more dyscrasia?, from the indifference of most
physicians, and the ignorance of the public, whether their healthy child be vaccinated
from another, who is perfectly healthy, or with vaccine-virus, perhaps contaminated by
syphilis, itch, herpes, scrophulosis, &.c. We repeat it frankly, the cow-pox has,
merely from the reasons mentioned, ceased to protect against small-pox; notwith-
standing, by professional caprice, the term varioloid or any other name be applied to
the eruptive disease, which in many cases deforms and destroys like the small-pox.
Parents bereaved by varioloid, may be temporarily comforted by tables of mortality,
showing that cow-pox protects against sinall-pox; but the time will come, when the
public and the profession will be awake to this subject. We only hope, that it will
be soon enough, to prevent the imprecations of posterity upon their ancestors, and upon
a discovery, which could have done them so much benefit, and has done them bo
great and almost irreparable injury. Without many verified documents, posterity would
not believe, that in an age, when thousands have been so infatuated as to admit, that
spirits and miracles may be developed from the many millionth part of a grain of table
salt, charcoal, flint, &c., by mere triturations and shakings, the proportionally million
times larger quantity of a syphilitic or any other infectious matter, contained in a drop
of cow-pox lymph, and multiplied by the immensely more powerful processes of the
living human body, should have been regarded as nothing! Had Hahnemann ever
seriously reflected on this subject, which approaches so near to his singular conceptions
about the immense action of the smallest closes of drugs, and still more so to his
foolish theory of all chronic diseases, that it is almost incredible, how he and all his
followers could have missed it ; he would have amply compensated for all his impo-
sitions and absurdities, in using his unmerited authority, for the protection of millions
against such great injuries. — Hahnemann is, on the contrary, rather partial to unre-
strained vaccination, and opposed to revaccination, which should be instituted after
purberty, from reasons suggested and published by us, in Rust's Magaz.d. ges. Heilk.
Cerlin, 1827

49

perience of past times and of their dissenting fellow-practitioners,
and therefore to the manifest injury of their patients. With regard
to the theory of Brown's doctrine, it must have been obvious to every
unprejudiced observer, that the living body, in its healthy and dis-
eased state, could not be dependent only upon the plus or minus re-
lation between its excitability and external stimulants generally,
without regard to the specific quality of the latter, the specific
structure, and the thereby specifically modified excitability of the
single systems and organs; and that neither the rude conceptions
of the Brunonian in regard to nature, considering himself her
master, could be true, nor that the lancet, opium, brandy, and a few
similar articles could be the only remedies granted by Providence for
the great variety of diseases. The important objection made by
Brown's opposers to one of his fundamental principles, viz. that all
vital action must be considered only as the result of the conelative
inverse ratio between the excitability and the stimulant, was never
answered satisfactorily by its defenders, although if this proposition
were true, it would be difficult to comprehend the existence of any
dynamic disease. On the other side Brown himself, however unbi-
assed by almost all other acknowledged professional dogmas, — as all
reformers in medicine or those who pretend to be so usually are, —
believed in the existence of a state termed general hypersthenia.
This opinion, though adopted by all medical schools, appears
nevertheless contrary to the laws of nature, inasmuch as any
machine, living or not, cannot be diminished or disturbed the
least in its total action by the proportionally increased strength of
all its single parts ; this implying rather a state, which must be
less subjected to any derangement than any other state imaginable.
The judicious physician, however, aware of this and similar defects
and inconsistencies of that medical theory, some fundamental
principles of which will last as long as rational physiology and prac-
tical medicine shall exist, may they be ever so much neglected for
a short time — will be better satisfied with its cautious application,
than with many vague conceptions and prescriptions of the older
schools. It was principally the rude manner in which Brown, and
his followers more particularly, ventured to apply his energetic mode
of treatment, that caused the sudden downfall of a doctrine which
at first had been received with so much enthusiasm by the most
distinguished practitioners, and which had promised to last for
centuries. This doctrine gave way after a comparatively short

7

50

existence to another method, which, accordant to similar epochs in
the history of medicine immediately following each other, was
quite the opposite, instead of avoiding the faults and mistakes, and
improving the truths and benefits of its predecessor. When the
orthodox Brunonist imagined every one of his patients lost by
asthenia, unless saved by madeira, opium or bark, his succeed-
ing younger colleagues or he himself, witnessing the frequent
failures and disasters of their former method, became converted
into orthodox antiphlogists or gastricists ; they considered all dis-
eases as arising from a general superabundance of blood, from a dia-
thesis inflannnatoria or orgasmus, or also from a morbidly increased
accumulation of bile, mucus, &c, which were either quite imagi-
nary or rested on delusive symptoms only. Without regard to the
true causes of these different symptoms, they neglected properly to
value the general as well as specific actions of the vital power, as
partly dependent upon and modified by the different tissues and
their sympathetical connexions, which jointly constitute the living
functions of the animal and particularly of the human body. The
profession, overlooking, more than ever, all other causes of dis-
eases, now again presumed in most patients an inflammation, sub-
inflammation, or changes dependent upon them. The results of
most post mortem examinations, seldom failed to confirm such a
state of things supposed during life, and to demonstrate some dis-
coloured, indurated or suppurated part; and frequently in this
manner a new species of " itis n was created, in order to swell stil!
more the large catalogue of these kinds of diseases, which appear
at present to be almost the only ones by which the human race is
afflicted. It will without doubt be conclusively proved by posterity,
that pathological anatomy, — which if duly appreciated is not only
extremely valuable, but indispensable to the practice of medicine,
especially as it has thrown so much light in modern ages on the
diagnosis of many diseases, — has, particularly in our times, fre-
quently been made of immense injury, by over-valuing its results,
and by causing false conclusions, drawn from one state of things,
death, to be applied to another one widely different, life. The
secret recesses of the animal body, wherein the processes of life
have been performed, will always remain inaccessible to the scalpel
of the anatomist, and when a post mortem examination shows
correctly to the minute investigator the seat of the fatal disease,
he will nevertheless remain ignorant of its cause and dcvclopement.

51

" Omnia incerta ct in naturae majestate abdita. (Plin. hist. nat.
" Lib. 2.") It deserves also particular notice, that such examinations
are seldom instituted without previous medical treatment, and that
therefore, besides the great difference which must exist between
the commencement of a disease and its termination, after days,
weeks, or even months have elapsed ; the state of things should
not be considered as unmixed and only as the consequence of the
disease itself, but also as the possible result of the treatment. False
opinions of the very nature of many diseases have thus been sanc-
tioned for a much longer time than they would otherwise have
been, and have greatly injured the true advancement of the pro-
fession.

The history of medicine will justly censure the rude empiricism
into which the profession has relapsed at a period, so distinguished
by many valuable discoveries in all the natural sciences, and will
record also the singular fact that those discoveries, particularly in
natural philosophy, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, which
might have improved practical medicine, should have remained,
almost unnoticed by the same nation, whose Blumenbach, Bur-
dach, Tiedemann, Treviranus and others had continued, with un-
paralleled zeal and success, the great work commenced by Albertus
Haller, the father of physiology. Now and then old controversies
of a general interest to practical medicine were renewed, but in a
manner unworthy of the great progress in physiology and che-
mistry ; for instance, the disputes between the solidists and the
humoral pathologists, and especially with regard to the former,
whether the action of the nervous system should be considered as
the only exciting and regulating power in the living animal eco-
nomy, or not. Of the number of professors and authors on prac-
tical medicine there were, in our times, but few, who thought with
more true philosophical acuteness and consistency, that animal
life in general, especially its physical functions, should be consi-
dered as particularly influenced by the universal powers of nature;
that all the single systems, organs and pails of the living animal,
are more or less endowed with the same power, and that their va-
rious functions depend upon their particular primitive and subse-
quent formation and chemical composition, by which their at-
tractive and repulsive powers, or their living electro-chemical pro-
cesses, as well as their other manifestations of life, are only modified
and diversified, so as to form an harmonious or inharmonious indi-

52

vidual whole, in the healthy and diseased state. The majority of
the profession recommenced, on a larger scale than before, to treat
diseases merely upon symptoms, which were generally connected
only accidentally with the cause of the symptoms, or, at least were
incident also to opposite causes, instead of considering all the consti-
tuent parts of the living body, from the brain down to the excremen-
titious matter not yet excreted, as possessing life; although all these
single parts constituting the living whole, pro tern., gradually in-
crease in their importance, from the excrementitious matter and the
hair, bones, blood, &c., up to the brain, by which the finite or
material world is reciprocally connected with the infinite or imma-
terial empire of ideas, feelings, imagination and volition. — Thus,
if a vigorous individual is suddenly attacked with symptoms of
pleurisy or of inflammation of the brain, liver, &c, after mental ex-
citement or after the abuse of spirituous drinks, <fcc, immediately
previous to a cold, &c. it is not considered worth while minutely to
examine the causes, and to distinguish whether the case is a ge-
nuine inflammation of the serous coat of the lungs, of the brain, &c,
or whether it is only a catarrhal, rheumatic or a similar affection,
arising from a checked or perverse conductive capacity of the ner-
vous system, which may be easily reestablished without resorting
to violent measures ; no, the whole morbid process is instantane-
ously considered as a violent inflammation, arising from a supera-
bundance or an orgasmus of the blood, though no one can de-
monstrate what cause could well have generated an orgasmus, or
much less have increased so suddenly the quantity of blood. Sup-
posing even this conjecture right, and the local inflammation to be
unquestionably a genuine one, though no well educated physician
will totally deny the necessity of large bleedings or other rea-
sons, no regard is paid to the plain objection which might be raised
against all large general abstractions of blood, viz. that they cannot
remedy the disease directly, on account of the simple fact, that,
if an even quantity be deducted from an uneven one, the un-
evenness must naturally remain the same as before, and that
the most valuable material for all vital exertions, the blood, is
lost in addition, frequently without any other advantage than the
chance offered to the energetic constitution and the good fortune
of the patient to overcome, not only the disease itself, but also the
bad effect of the injudicious treatment. A few such cases, from
which the patients fortunately escaped, are held forth as the tro

53

phies of the art ; many faithfully recorded as fatal, either immedi-
ately or after a lingering chronic disease, are attributed to other
accidents by the followers of the dominant method, and thousands
fall victims to the same ill treatment without being noticed.
When after a short delusive relief by bleeding, cupping, leeching,
purging, &c., the symptoms again become aggravated, though
nothing could justify the opinion of a renewed increase of blood,
<kc, one would suppose that these fancied causes would henceforth
remain out of the question, and that the patient would be subjected
to another treatment ; far from this, the lancet, cathartics, &c. are
again and again employed, until the poor sufferer is reduced to the
utmost, and the physician, suddenly inspired by meek devotion,
invokes the aid of the same healing power of nature, to the voice
of which he was quite deaf a few hours previous, or which he con-
sidered shortly before as impotent, though this very healing power
of nature, properly supported and directed, would probably have
saved the patient, whom now all those invocations and all the large
doses of ether, musk, opium and bark are unable to restore. The
grossest misconceptions continued to prevail in the practice of me-
dicine at the time, when the great discoveries about electro-
chemical processes should have attracted the closest attention of
the practitioner, in order to enlighten his conceptions in regard to
causes of disease and the action of drugs. This great agent,
attending most if not all the operations of physical nature, pro-
ducing immense effects in the most subtile manner, and withmieans
apparently quite disproportionate, seems to have attracted hitherto
only the attention of the natural philosopher and chemist, although
the highly important identity of electricity and magnetism, as dis-
covered by Oersted, the undeniable and remarkable phenomena of
animal magnetism, and the structure and functions of the nervous
system from its first lineaments to its perfect developement, so much
elucidated in modern times by Bichat, Bell, Magendie, Tiedemann,
and others, should have led to different results in regard to the
treatment of diseases in general, and more particularly to the quan-
tities, in which drugs may be properly administered. Disregarding
the two golden maxims, " quid fieri potest per pauca non fieri debet
" per multa," and " omne nimium vertitur in contrarium," almost,
every patient, if dangerously ill, resembles, in the eyes of the phy-
sician, a strong castle, with its obstinate commander, in a pro-
tracted siege, to be destroyed and levelled rather than preserved

54

and conquered by skilful and prudent manoeuvres and negotia-
tions ; — his principal object appears to subdue the disease at all
events, without thinking, that in consequence of the violent mea-
sures taken, and the surplus of powerful drugs given, the patient
might either die, or suffer through his whole life, with all the pains
and inconveniences of a broken constitution.

Even the two lateral branches of medicine, surgery and obs-
tetrics, both so intimately connected with and dependent on the
former, have not derived advantages proportionate to the great
progress which they have made in their own spheres within the
last thirty years, only on account of the stationary or rather retro
grade state of practical medicine within the same period.

Operative surgery has in itself attained in our present times, by
distinguished men in every civilized nation, a degree of perfection
hardly imagined in former ages. The diagnosis of surgical cases
has been greatly improved, and operations successfully executed,
which justly claim the greatest respect and gratitude for the skill,
talents and dexterity of many eminent surgeons of the present
age ; but with regard to the preservation of the human frame by
judicious medico-chirurgical treatment, either to prevent the neces-
sity of painful and dangerous operations, or to ensure their success
by a circumspect after-treatment, we venture to assert that the
results are by no means equal to what they might be. Although
not a practical surgeon, we have known many cases to prove
fatal, where in all probability by a less active or at least by a better
mode of medical after-treatment, life woul dhave been saved, or
where the unfortunate patient would have recovered without being
mutilated and deformed. The minute diagnosis of the different
species of strangulated hernia for instance, has been so astonishingly
improved by the great talents and united exertions of men like
Scarpa, Astley Cooper, Dupuytren, Hesselbach and others, that we
can consider this important chapter of practical surgery, not only as
quite different from what it was a century ago, but as almost per-
fect. Are the results of these great improvements, proportionally
more fortunate than those of past ages, when such cases were so
roughly handled by rude empirics ? We venture to say,by no means.
Many, endangered by the premature operation for strangulated
hernia, could have been saved, cither without any operation, by a
judicious medical treatment, or at least after the necessary operation
had been circumspectly performed, if the common pernicious opinion

55

had not prevailed, that the patient must immediately swallow im-
mense doses of salts, castor oil, calomel, jalap, &c, and be submitted
indiscriminately to repeated bleedings, leeching, &C, in order to en-
force at all hazards the natural functions of the bowels, which had
been so long morbidly affected and severely injured. No attention
is paid to the more reasonable supposition, strikingly confirmed
by daily experience, that nothing is more beneficial, and that
nothing can more contribute to restore the healthy functions of any
organ which has suffered by a disease or by a painful operation,
than rest, and the careful removal of any thing which might force
it to perform its functions, which according to the laws of nature,
mustalways remain morbidly affected orsuspended for a certain time
after the mechanical hindrance has been removed by art. How
many fractured bones, after being well set, might have been quickly
and safely cured by a proper medical treatment, instead of which
the patients have suffered for years, at the risk of loosing the limb
at last by amputation, under more aggravated circumstances than
in the beginning, or have remained through life lame and sickly,
in consequence of the methodical ill-treatment which was intended
to prevent danger, but which really caused it ! This is plainly
seen by impartially analyzing such a course, and by considering
what would probably be the natural effect upon the stoutest
labourer, who while enjoying perfect health should be confined at
once to a bed with a diet of gruel, lemonade and a little toast ; then
largely bled, leeched, purged ; the next day forced to swallow re-
peated large doses of anodynes ; then bled again, and so alternately
for a week only ! Every one will admit that such a man will fall
dangerously ill, and that perhaps he will be affected with some
local complaint, as erysipelas, rheumatism, or the like. Will not
this be much more the case if he has unfortunately fractured a
limb? Can it be wondered at, that under such improper treat-
ment, frequently pursued by eminent surgeons, the patient soon
becomes feverish, delirious, and perhaps even, at an unfavorable sea-
son, affected by locked-jaw, that all the functions become disordered,
that the limb while yet morbidly affected by the mechanical injury
and the local irritation, is forced to become the centre of a general
sympathetical morbid reaction of all the systems and many im-
portant organs ; that by this the fracture does not join after many
months, though it would have perhaps been cured in six weeks ; or
the local inflammation being artificially protracted, and transmuted

56

into aa asthenic one, instead of the secretion of fluids, rich with
sound fibrin and osseous substance, and well adapted for a healthy
substantial callus, sanies becomes secreted, fistula, caries, &c, ensue;
and at last, if amputation does not fortunately check all these de-
structive processes, incurable consumption follows? The great
number of middle-aged individuals with mutilated limbs, which are
not caused by war or any similar calamity, now more common
than formerly, in large cities, show that the surgeons of our age
are generally more skilful in cutting off a limb, than in preserving
it, though it may easily be proved that in most of these cases the
loss of a limb postpones, merely for a number of years, premature
death, and that its preservation is therefore to be considered an
indicatio vitalis, as much as the amputation generally is.

The case is nearly the same with the practice of midwifery,
notwithstanding the great improvements made in this branch of
medicine by many distinguished professors and authors. Without
pretending to judge of the minutiae of an art which we have never
practically pursued, we may however notice, that we seldom met
with accoucheurs, who did not abuse the application of instruments
or other artificial aid, in cases which nature alone would have over-
come with ease, if sufficient time had been allowed her. This is
particularly the case in countries where this art is not entrusted to
the care of well instructed women, who in many cases not requir-
ing professional interference, are naturally more disposed to wait
patiently, as they know by their own experience, the slow but
safe operation of nature better than men, who generally en-
gaged in a large medical and surgical practice, frequently ne-
glect one of their duties by overhastening. Most accoucheurs
are also anxious to interfere improperly with the natural expul-
sion of the placenta, which, as sound physiological principles and
many experiences demonstrate, may mostly be left to nature her-
self, with great benefit to the confined woman ; few urgent and
tedious cases excepted, which the enlightened art has minutely
defined, but which never should form a general rule. In the
medical treatment of the lying-in-woman great and very obnoxious
prejudices still prevail. Haemorrhages are now generally checked,
without regard to the great variety of causes, by bleeding, cold
water, ice, and by the strongest astringents, applied internally and
externally ; the rational accoucheur of former times removed
them perhaps not as quickly, but safer by the tincture of cinnamon,

57

small doses of laudanum, ipecacuanha, refracta dosi, and by other
remedies appropriate to the different prevailing causes. Many
accoucheurs at present do not generally consider, although they
may quickly remove the prominent symptom, yet that the imme-
diate and still more the later consequences are often very serious.
Thus, to say nothing of subsequent sterility, many chronic diseases
of the uterus at a late age, such as polypus, scirrhus, cancer, &c,
which are now more frequent than ever, and increase yearly at a
shocking ratio, (see Siebold's Journal, f. Geburtsh. Vol. VIII., No. 3,)
are partly caused by the illtreatment referred to, and by many
similar prescriptions, dictated by a rude empiricism. Other causes,
moral as well as physical, which we shall perhaps quote occasion-
ally, may be the reason why young married ladies are now more
affected in their health and beauty after one pregnancy, than then-
ancestors were after a dozen, though many other professional and
popular prejudices respecting puberty, pregnancy, labour and con-
finement, and the present defective system of education, bear un
doubtedly a part of the charges.*

* By combining the practice of medicine with that of surgery and midwifery, the
progress of the former has been much impeded. An impartial observer, who does not
believe that the mental capacities of men have improved much during the last cen-
turies, must think it strange, that with the immensely increased extent of all medical
and surgical sciences, practical medicine and practical surgery are at present combined
in the same person in most countries ; it was formerly but seldom the case, and docs
not exist now so extensivelv in England and France, as in Germany and other coun-
tries. The history of literature and arts may raise the question, whether the intel-
lectual capacities of individuals are as great now as formerly, particularly if we do
justice to our ancestors, and consider the much greater difficulties which they had to
encounter and their far more limited means. The answer will unquestionably be
still more in favor of our ancestors, also in regard to their literary acquirements, if
we reflect on the stupendous works of men, as Martin Luther, Graevius, Friedrich
Hoffmann, Linne, Albertus Haller. &c, some of which are so voluminous that copying
them only, would almost require more than one man's life. The present connexion
of practical medicine with surgery must be still more remarkable to one who reflects,
that the father of the healing art emphatically exclaimed, upwards of twenty-five
centuries ago, " how short is human life, and how long the art !" and who reflects also
that, in modem times, nothing has more promoted the rapid improvements in almost
all branches of industry than the division of labor. We must admit, that all nations
of high standing may pride themselves upon possessing few men equally distinguished
by their great acquirements and talents in medicine as well as in surgery, and that
in general the people, especially when their number is but small in comparison to their
extent of country, could rather dispense with good physicians than with good sur-
geons, and will derive much greater benefit from their professional men, if they can
officiate as physicians equally as well as surgeons and accoucheurs. In general, how-
ever, as Providence has prominently distinguished certain nations with particular mo-
ral and intellectual dispositions and feelings, and as no nation can, with propriety,
claim to combine in her natural character the virtues, talents and acquirements of all
the others, so Providence has also seldom endowed one individual with the qualifica-
tions necessary for medical practice and for the other two sciences, which must be
considered more as arts and therefore as belonging together. The natural dispositions
for the physicians on one side, and for the surgeon and accoucheur on the other,
differ widely. Medicine depends nunc prominently upon a disposition for abstract
philosophical inquiries, upon a lively imagination and sympathy; the other two more

8

58

With this brief sketch of the practice of medicine in our age, to
which we shall occasionally add a few remarks, the dissatisfaction

particularly upon a faithful memory, upon mechanical ingenuity and dexterity, and
upon a certain degree of apathy. The surgeon has generally to operate upon the
human body, when suddenly injured by some mechanical power, while enjoying
health; the physician is more commonly called in, after a succession of causes, and their
correspondent effects, have long undermined the free vital actions of the body. The
province of the physician is more in the injured, or rather restricted actions of the
dynamical relations of the human body, more or less involved in mystery, and there-
fore mostly objects of conjecture ; the provinces of the other two are more the me-
chanical hindrances and checks to the healthy functions of the human body, which are
much more palpable and consequently are more readily discerned. Farther, while the
surgeon is easily misled by a too lively imagination, the talented physician cannot do
without it, since he must form an intellectual picture of the state of things, frequently
less dependent upon previous events and present phenomena, than upon his sympathy
with the feelings and sensations of the patient. Fr. Bacon says, very properly, in
his work de Augment. Sclent : " Quare apud poetas summa ratione musica cum
" medicina in Apolline conjungitur; quia similis fere situtriusque artis genius ; atque
" in ea consistat plane medici officium, ut sciat corporis humani lyram ita tendere et
" pulsare, ut reddatur concentus minime discors et insuavis." No one thoroughly
acquainted with the profession, will depreciate surgery, and can deny the high credit
due to the accomplished surgeon, especially now that surgery has attained so much
perfection, and since so many are saved from premature death, or from a painful
miserable existence, merely by surgical skill. One severe case of typhus or scarlet
fever, of consumption, paralysis, &c, however, requires more philosophical acuteness
and depth, than most surgical operations, though, to a certain extent, the mistakes of
the physician are frequently much more ameliorated by the aid of nature than those
of the surgeon, since the slightest awkward or injudicious movement of the surgeon
may endanger the life of his patient, and his ignorance in the treatment of a dislocat-
ed or fractured limb &c, can never be repaired by the aid of nature. From their diffe-
rent natural dispositions and occupations we find therefore, generally, that eminent
surgeons either undervalue all medical assistance, or, when acting as physicians, de-
cide too quickly ; they are much more in favor of too powerful and too large doses of
drugs, paying less reg ird to minuti* than the physician, who, devoting his life exclu-
sively to medical practice, has learned by il, that one ounce of blood unnecessarily ab-
stracted, or one drop of laudanum improperly applied, may frequently decide on life
and death. The surgeon generally deals by wholesale with the vital power, the phy-
sician more by retail, and we seldom find even wholesale merchants and retailers
equally attentive to minntia? and equally successful in exchanging one kind of busi-
ness for the other. It would materially injure the surgeon, and degrade him to
a level with the lowest mechanic, if he were not thoroughly acquainted with the
whole extent of the medical profession ; and no well educated physician can dispense
with a minute knowledge of surgery; but where it is possible to separate the practice
of both, it will prove highly beneficial to the public, directly and indirectly, as
both will be advanced. During the last twenty years the students of medicine direct
their attention more to surgery than to the acquirements of a philosophical insight into
the theory of medicine, which would best promote the elevation of their minds over a
rude empiricism. The complaints made upwards of a century airo by one of the
greatest practitioners and ablest medical authors, have become again but too true.
Bernh. Ramazzini says, in his Oper. " quando nostra hac state medicina ad mecha-
" nismum lota pane redacta est, et schola: nil magis quam automatismum crepant "
It would not. be difficult for an author, abler than ourselves, by minutely reviewing the
medical literature in the present age, to prove that medicine, by its amalgamation
with surgery, has rather adopted all the features of the latter, by relying more exclu-
sively on the palpable, especially if he should advert to the numerous medical and
surgical periodicals of England, France and Germany, and the proportional scarcity of
original medical works like those of Sydenham, Portal, J. P. Frank, Benjamin Rush,
&c, which are truly valuable for their abstracts of minute investigations during a
long and exclusively medical practice. An extensive periodical literature must be
considered as proving, that education and learning are extensively diffused, as we may
judge from the quantity of newspapers of the lively interest which a people is per-
mitted to take in its political institutions, or really takes in Us self-government.
Where the periodical literature of a certain science, which embraces many votaries

59

of many young physicians, aware of the many and great profes-
sional desiderata on commencing practice, could easily be explain-
ed, and would do honor to their intellect as well as to their huma-
nity and professional zeal. A large field is open to them, to find
out less hazardous and more rational modes of cure, the materials
for which exist in the voluminous writings of many distinguished
authors, from Hippocrates down to the present time, and also in
the immense treasures, offered to the philosophical and scrutinizing
physician, by the high degree of perfection which all the natural
sciences, and especially physiology and pathological anatomy,
have attained. But should the young physician, misled by igno-
rant fanatics, or by men who, being inconscious of the high duties
of their vocation, are anxious only to satisfy their morbid fancy
or low interest, reject all closer investigations after truth, as mere
" learned lumber ;" and should he prefer to listen to the rudest
empiricism, rather than to the dictates of rational medicine, to the
temptations of a miserable quackery rather than to the warning
voices of his conscience and of so many distinguished physicians

does not succeed, there the low standing of professional education cannot be doubted,
because well educated men of every profession must keep pace with the new disco-
veries and interesting suggestions in their profession. But inasmuch as a great
statesman cannot be formed or become satisfied only by the perusal of newspapers,
so too in regard to sciences, no solid knowledge can be drawn from periodicals and
reviews only; they promote a superficial knowledge of scientific objects, and produce,
as has been proved in modern times in respect to medicine, many vague suggestions,
frequently not confirmed by experience. It is however evident that no other science or
art can in this respect be compared with medicine and surgery, since in no other voca-
tion is the neglect of study so injurious. The artist, if unacquainted with the latest
discoveries and improvements in his art, will injure himself only, or may thus even pre-
serve his originality; the lawyer, if he is not a distinguished scientific man, an author or
a professor, may easily be satisfied by knowing the few alterations made in the laws
and statutes, and. like the clergyman, who is thoroughly versed in his professional
studies before entering into office, ho may consider his continued study more as va-
luable means to improve his intellect, and as an amusement worthy of his refined taste
and of his vocation, rather than as a duty. But the conscientious physician and surgeon
should not be satisfied with the knowledge they attained before their examination
and graduation : and no patient will be contented with the knowledge of his physician
acquired thirty or forty years ago, nor be satisfied if he remains uncured, or is even
materially injured, because his doctor has lost a good share of the old stock by the
lapse of so many years, and has remained ignorant of the many improvements and
discoveries made during so loner a period ; certainly not ! he silently wishes and is
entitled to demand, that he may be saved or relieved by all the means which the pro-
fession offers at the moment he calls for its aid, whether this be practicable only by
a new discovery or suggestion recently made in his own or in any foreign country.
Both the physician and surgeon are therefore bound to continue their study, and free
themselves from the reproach of being, from neglected study, in many cases, the ne-
gative cause of great mischief and injury. Every impartial and intelligent layman
will find it difficult to comprehend how this can be done by a man, even if possessing
extraordinary mental capacities, talents, &c, when he is engaged day and night in his
his practice as a physician, a surgeon, an accoucheur, and perhaps also as an apothecary
and druggist. Is not indeed our life a little too short, to perform all these important
duties conscientiously 1

60

of all ages: he will repent, when too late, the irreparable loss of
his own happiness, by having entered the hygieian temple unpre-
pared for such an arduous task.

The reason why so many young men enter the medical pro-
fession unaware of its extraordinary requisites and duties, and feel,
at a later period of their life, unhappy in the choice of their voca-
tion, may principally be ascribed to the total ignorance of the pub-
lic in regard to medicine generally. No art, no science is indeed
more unknown to laymen, although in none they are more deeply
interested and of none they pretend to judge better. The true
and only cause of this is the want of proper information with
regard to the different sciences belonging to the study of medicine,
and especially to the want of a general philosophical education,
which is so much neglected in our time, although so indispensable
to all special scientific investigations, not only generally for the
formation of a sound judgment, but also for the acquisition of a
proper insight into the foundation and structure of all the sciences
and arts. We therefore frequently hear the most absurd asser-
tions about the profession and its practitioners, and see particular
confidence placed in the unlearned and uneducated, whose con-
ceptions and prejudices harmonize more with those of the public,
and who ore devoid of that discreet and unaffected modesty and
dignity which always distinguish the man of education and real
talent, and which render him less familiar with common-place
topics. These are the principal reasons why the profession is
highly valued only among the rudest and the most civilized na-
tions, while its standing is the lowest among those, whose state of
civilization is more calculated for useful knowledge than for ge-
neral philosophical inquiries into scientific matters, especially if
the legal requisites for entering the profession are at the same time
trifling, so that a large stock of professional men is always at com-
mand. The large number of popular treatises on the cure of
diseases has also contributed much to perpetuate noxious preju-
dices and to promote very defective knowledge, which is much
worse than none at all, whenever the great difference of two or
more apparently similar cases depends on minute distinctions, de-
rivable only from an intimate knowledge of the separate depart-
ments of the art. Very few and urgent cases excepted, in nine
times out often, the adoption of prescriptions recommended in such
works leads to mischief much greater, than if nature is left undis-

Gl

turbed, especially as such prescriptions are generally unconditional,
and by not adverting to the great importance of the different
causes, promote the obnoxious opinion, that all medical practice
consists only in the close observation of the symptoms, and in
the application of the medicines recommended by the profession
for the different names of diseases. This erroneous opinion has
principally paved the way for the zealous adoption of homceopathia
by many in Germany, the well educated and judicious physicians
excepted. Of all medical doctrines hitherto promulgated, no one
tends to promote prejudices against rational medicine more than
homceopathia, although the present time is particularly propitious
for enlightening the public, and for restricting also the detrimental
abuse of powerful domestic medicines.

During the long interregnum of rational medicine, and the pre-
valence of many favourable circumstances, the author of homcepa-
thia, even with his moderate talents, might have much promoted
practical medicine, if he had tried to confirm some of his discoveries
by impartial experiments, and to combine them with the indis-
pensable requisites of the rational healing art, instead of destroying
the latter in a manner unparalleled in the history of any science,
since the restoration of the sciences and arts, and worthy only of a
scientific Vandalism. That this has been the course of Hahnemann
and his followers, we feel particularly bound to prove, by the fol-
lowing review of the principles or rather maxims of homopo-
pathia ; these maxims are —

1st. All simple drugs given to individuals in health, produce in
them, under all circumstances, certain definite morbid symptoms,
which are termed drug-symptoms, and which are similar to the
symptoms observable in certain corresponding natural diseases.

2nd. The direct curative power of each simple drug, and of all
medicines generally, consists exactly and exclusively in the simi-
larity of the symptoms of a natural disease to their corresponding
drug-symptoms, or to those produced in healthy individuals, by
administering certain simple drugs to them ; so that all other ope-
rations of drugs are to be considered as capable only of admitting
recovery indirectly, or by chance.

3d. All natural substances, but especially all drugs acquire, by
certain mechanical processes, certain medicinal powers, so that any
quantity of the substance or drug in question, however small, will
always operate absolutely and unconditionally as an effectual remedy

62

in its appropriate disease, by its specific power properly developed,
which power or virtue, however, increases ad infinitum, in the
direct ratio of the mechanical processes mentioned, and in the in-
verse ratio of the quantity of the substance.

To give a complete view of this doctrine, we must mention its
author's theory of all chronic diseases, published in 1S28, about
eighteen years after the first edition of his Organon, and twenty-
three years after his publication of the homoeopathic doctrine.
We shall see hereafter, that in this new work, he has contradicted
and explicitly retracted the second fundamental maxim of homceo-
pathia, so that his doctrine, as it now stands, should be called Hah-
nemannism, rather than homceopathia.

At the very commencement of all homoeopathic doctrines, viz.
the experiments of simple drugs upon healthy individuals, we
meet with the great difficulty arising from Hahnemann's moral
and scientific duplicity. To say nothing of the true conditions
of perfect health, which, in its strict physiological sense, is seldom
met with, and not ascertainable unless the person is thoroughly
known to the experimentalist from his infancy : wherever experi-
ments had been instituted by his opposers, exactly according to
his first directions, and had proved abortive, he and his followers al-
leged, as a chief cause, the erroneous opinion entertained by these
opposers, that homoeopathic doses of a drug should affect healthy
persons. They afterwards stated, that to observe the truth of their
experiments, it was necessary to apply the simple drugs in question
in large allopathic doses, (see Hahnemann's Organon, 4th edit.
§ 120 and 121, Dr. Moritz Mueller in Archiv fuer Homoeopathische
.Heilkunde, Vol. III. No. 1, p. 30, Dr. Gross, ibid, No. 3, p. 133,
Dr. Rummel, ibid, Vol. V. No. 1, p. 14.) Dr. Hering also alludes
to this, when he says, (1. c. p. 14), " medicines do not become salu-
" tary by their direct effects, such as are manifested in experiments
" on healthy persons after strong and frequent doses, &c." When
these experiments, thus altered by Hahnemann's explicit advice
had led his opposers again to results totally different from his state-
ments, and he found it difficult to verify other assertions of his
doctrine, he decided again in favor of his first suggestion of ho-
moeopathic doses. In this manner the author of the Concise View
repeals and contradicts, also (1. c. p. 20), his statements just quoted,
by saying : " But now its energies were developed, and displayed
" so penetrating and powerful an influence upon the healthy

G3

" subject of experiment, that the trials with it appertained to the
" most difficult and assaulting, so that higher developments were
" obliged to be made for further experiments; and for remedial
" purposes the developments were continued up to the thirtieth
" power." Hahnemann himself explains this still more distinctly,
saying, when speaking of table-salt (Chron. Dis. Vol. IV. p. 276),
" All these statements refer to trials generally instituted on robust
" and healthy persons, with two or three doses of six little sugar-
" pellets, moistened with the decillionth developed power. Only
" when tried on healthy persons, in such a high degree of develop-
" ment and solution, all other remedies also are capable of dis-
" playing their powers." It is evident that these contradictory
assertions cannot be reconciled with common sense. Suppose
that A, when speaking of a substance, should say to B, test the
truth of my experiment, by taking once only the billionth part of a
grain of it, and 13 tried it without experiencing the desired effect ;
now A ridicules B for doing exactly what he, A, has repeatedly
recommended, and says : " take it by ounces, three or more times
" a day, and then you will observe what I told you." B, however,
in so doing, is still unsuccessful ; A now prescribes again what
he did at first, or a quantity of many thousand million times less ;
every one witnessing such a transaction would say, with the
greatest propriety, that A must be either a fool or an imposter ; but
according to the moral and intellectual conceptions of the fanatic ho-
niu'opathists, A must be considered as " the strict and conscientious
" man, the earnest inquirer after truth, and the profound observer."
(Dr. Hering, 1. c. p. 14) ! — In leaving Hahnemann's doses of drugs,
until we have arrived at the third maxim of homoeopathia, we
refer at present to the experiments on healthy persons with large
doses of drugs, since, being forced to take one of both opposite
extremes, equally recommended by him, we consistently take that
one which he has constantly used, until he had in his experiments
lately resolved otherwise. We take this course also in favor of
homoeopathia itself, because if the same dose of any substance or
drug should operate exactly the same in health and in a diseased
state, it would follow among other reasons to be mentioned, that
the substance or drug must be quite indifferent.

This point of view adopted, we shall find, however, palpable
contradictions, which, Hahnemann as well as his adherents, try in
vain to veil by the tinsel . of a borrowed scietific language. Dr.

64

Hering says, in this spirit, (I. c. page 14:) "medicines do not
" become salutary by tlieir direct effects, such as are manifested in
" experiments on healthy subjects after strong and frequent doses,
" but they are salutary by reason of their after-operation, or rather
" of the counteraction of the organization."

We should almost conclude from these suggestions, that the
injury of drugs, used in a manner not sanctioned by the tenets of
homoeopathia, depends upon their not causing any counter-or-after-
action in the living organization. It appears impossible to com-
prehend how any substance could act otherwise on the living
body than by counter-action, or by directing the irritability, sen-
sibility, or whatever we may term the general or specific manifesta-
tion of the vital power to some primary action, from which, for a
longer or a shorter time, a series of others, termed after-actions,
results. It would indeed be quite a novelty in physiology to believe
that medicines act on healthy persons onty, " by their direct effect,"
and that the " counter-action" is only a prerogative of the diseased
individual. It would also be difficult to comprehend, how any effect
can be perceptible without counteraction, and if it were really pos-
sible, how the homoeopathic experiments on healthy persons became
manifest. If a substance does not produce counteraction in some
way, then we can observe neither a beneficial nor a detrimental
action ; it is an absolute nonentity, from which no positive con-
clusion can be drawn. AVithout counteraction, the existence of
all diseases would be only imaginary, since life itself could not
exist ; the direct action of all external influences, precluding all
counteraction, being nothing but death itself. But admitting even
that the suggestion quoted implies counteraction in the diseased
and no counteraction in the healthy state, or a counteraction ma-
terially different in both ; this itself involves so great a difference
between the healthy and diseased states as reasonably to preclude
such inferences. Supposing even the statement in the " Concise
View" to be correct, viz: that the immensely diluted drug acts more
mildly and with less violence in the diseased state, notwithstand-
ing its vastly multiplied developed power, a proposition yet incon-
sistent in itself, we would ask for the present only, if the counter
action depends merely on the vital power, how can it be explained
or proved, that their reaction is more energetic in the diseased than
in the healthy state, and that the spreading of any re-or-counter-
action, be it by association or antagonism of the different systems

65

and organs of the living body, always extends in the former more
than in the latter? This may be the case in a few instances of
hyperesthesia, but certainly not in anaesthesia or paralysis, and in
the former always only with regard to the extent, and not to the
intensive energy of the vital reaction ; it appears more consistent
with reason and sound physiological principles, to say, that the
increase of intensive vital energy precludes all disorders and dis-
eases rather than promotes them. We are well aware that Hah-
nemann in his religious duplicity, utters also frequently, and almost
in the same breath, the most blasphemous and pious suggestions,
saying in many passages of his writings, and even in the prefaqe
to his Organon, what no man of common sense has ever ventured
to pronounce, viz. that " the vital powers are the most helpless,
" most undesigning, most stupid, generally unbeneficial and inju
" rious, and only instinctive," although in some other sections of his
Organon and other works, he graciously compliments nature by
leaving her some insignificant share in his all-curing method.
But believing in our humble devoutness, that the vital powers in
organized bodies, which form only a part of the universal powers
of nature, are the most accomplished, most energetic and most
beneficial, and perfectly worthy of the infinite wisdom and mercy
of their eternal and omnipotent Creator, we are forced to admit
also, that if these powers were possibly less restricted, and there-
fore more intensively energetic in any diseased state than in a
healthy one — a proposition contrary to common sense — they would
of themselves be quite sufficient to remove all diseases in the quick-
est and safest manner, without any medical aid, which would then
be entirely useless or rather detrimental. The effect of substances
commonly used by healthy persons, which the author of the
" Concise View, 1 ' calls in the sense of homceopathia, (page 26,)
" endowed with peculiarly active properties, as well as medicines
" properly so called, &c, such as coffee, tobacco,, saffron, all spirit-
" uous drinks," proves also the inconsistency of the assertion, the*
medicines do not produce in healthy persons a counter-or (after-
operation, since this must be true also respecting the named sub-
stances; which, of course, would be absurd. To say nothing of the
effect, palpable to every body, if a glass of madeira be given to a
healthy infant, will it not produce a very serious counteraction, by
which a series of after-actions will begin and continue, terminating
probably in apoplexy, unless proper aid be quickly administered?

9

66

The same will be the case with a strong dose of any sufficiently
powerful drug, when taken by a healthy adult. Dr. Bering ad-
mits the baneful influence of spirituous liquors when used habitu-
ally. Does not this prove the protracted counter-and after-operation
of substances termed by him medicinal, if applied to the healthy
body ? How could the repeated abuse of brandy become so ex-
cessively detrimental to the physical and mental condition of man,
if its effects were ^only immediate and not protracted by any
counter-or after-operation, and herefore immediately extinct
after it is taken ? Is habit any thing but the gradually diminished
and shortened counter-and after-action consecutory to a certain
and sufficiently repeated external influence upon the living body?
A person who gives himself up to drunkenness, this horrible and
worse than brutal passion, begins by satisfying his taste with a
small quantity, but he is compelled to increase it gradually, not as
some recent authors assert, simply from a morbid irritability of the
stomach or a distemper of its nerves, but mostly rather from the
contrary cause, viz. from the physical insensibility of the nervous
system, or from his reckless inclination to s blunt, by this des-
structive stimulus, the moral feelings and thoughts on one side,
and to animate the wrong ones on the other. Without the counter-
action and after-operation of all the systems, particularly of the
nervous system, and of its animal and spiritual head-quarters, such
a wretched person would be obliged to drink incessantly, and even
then would hardly attain his abject purpose.

The same remarks apply to all idiosyncrasies which, contrary
to Hahnemann, are valued so highly by Dr. Hering, (1. c. page
25.) Hahnemann, in opposition to the daily experience of others,
and also in contradiction to his own statement, on page 205 of his
Organon, where he admits that all persons are not affected in the
same manner by drugs, says explicitly on pages 197 and 198 of
the same work : " by idiosyncrasy a proper condition of the
"body is understood, in consequence of which there is in the same,
" although considered healthy, an inclination to become more or
" less morbidly affected by certain things, which produce no im-
" pression or change in all other persons. But this defect of im-
" pression in all persons is merely imaginary? and on pages 121
and 122, § 26, he says, " The physical and moral powers, which
"are termed morbid influences, do not possess unconditionally
'the power of deranging health, but we only fall sick under

67

' their influence, when our organism is susceptible of the action of
" morbific causes and becomes affected, changed, distempered, and
" transmuted into abnormal sensations and actions by them ; —
" those powers therefore do not cause diseases in all men, nor in the
" same man at all periods, (fee," and in § 27. " But the case is far
tc different with the artificial causes of diseases, termed drugs. In
" fact, every real medicine acts at any time, under all circum-
" stances, upon every living individual, and excites in him its
"peculiar symptoms, (perceptible if the dose is large enough,) so
a that it is evident that each living human organism must at
'' all times, and absolutely {unconditionally) become affected and
{! almost infected by the drug-disease, which as I have already
" explained, is not the case with natural diseases."* The technical
term, idiosyncrasy, may be explained more clearly by the disposition
to become affected, by one or more certain agents, in a manner
difficult to be subdued by habit, and unusual to the species to
which an animal, or to the class to which a person belongs. It
may depend upon the reaction of one or more systems, or merely
of a single organ or part, and may be attributed to the peculiar
structure or specific chemical relation of the system or organ af-
fected, particularly of the nervous system, by which probably the
vital electro-chemical (magnetical) process or that of vital attraction
and repulsion, termed also (physical) sympathy and antipathy, is
abnormally altered. Such an idiosyncrasy may exist with regard to
common substances, as well as with unusual ones or drugs; not only

* The indulgent reader will on an attentive perusal consider the whole of this quota-
tion, like most of the quotations from Hahnemann, as unintelligible and their single in-
telligible words and expressions as bombastic cant. We can however assure him, that
they are not intentionally selected, and rather chosen by chance from similar one3 to
serve our objections; we have taken also the greatest pains to translate all these
quotations faithfully, and have even frequently consulted the French translation of the
Organon, to render them as irtelligible as possible; but of course no faithful
translator ought to substitute sense for the original nonsense, (as is frequently done in
the incorrect French translation,) even if he were more partial or indulgent for the
great mass of nonsense contained in the works of Hahnemann and his followers, than
we pretend to be. Possessing only the 4th edition of Hahnen mn's Organ. , we are
obliged to rely for some of our quotations on those older editions cited by Dr. Kopp,
in his work already mentioned, who by his acknowledged respect and partiality for
Hahnemann and his doctrines, will certainly have anxiously avoided all false quota-
tions. Even where the sense of a quotation is too plain to be misunderstood, the
fanatic homceopathists may charge us with an erroneous or false interpretation; these
lines however, are not written for them, but for the benefit of the profession and the
public, and we must lc;ive such charges to be finally decided by the competent and
impartial critic. Fortunately, our library affords us valuable, means, to prove incontro-
vertiblv the correctness of some of our assertions belonging to the history of homoeo-
pathia, and the biography of its author, which at least to our knowledge have hitherto
been neglected by his opposers. We shall be much pleased to show these printed
documents to every one who wishes to see them.

68

in health, but also in diseases ; and this in such a manner that a
person, possessed of a certain idiosyncrasy when in health, may
lose it when sick, and vice versa ; no one himself, and much less
another person, can be aware of this peculiar disposition until he
has observed it. Many of the healthy individuals on whom Hah-
nemann has made his experiments with drugs may have had such
an idiosyncrasy, by which the result was varied without knowing
it, and this must have led him to great mistakes in practice, al-
though if all the individuals in question should have been quite
free from such an idiosyncrasy, the homoeopathist with all his
" careful attention to minutiae" will frequently meet with the same
difficulties in patients possessing such an anomaly not known be-
fore. It would therefore at least be indispensable for homceopa-
thists, unless they claim prophesy, to have minutely tried the
effects of all their drug-atoms upon their patients, previous to their
falling sick, and they ought not to employ any remedy with pa-
tients, who were strangers to them before. But this difficulty is
not removed even by an intimate acquaintance with persons when
in health, since, as stated above, it does not follow that the same
particular disposition continues when sick. — It might justly be
objected, that these difficulties are not peculiar to homoeopathia,
but affect also the allopathic treatment very much, and a judicious
physician is well aware of the important influence of many idiosyn-
crasies upon a rational treatment. The difference however be-
tween these two is, that the homoeopathist, infallible in his own
opinion, will suppose, after he has ordered his patient to smell of a
sugar-pellet every month or less frequently, that the increase of the
disease is only the salutary counter-or after-action, produced by his
magical sugar-pellet ; and the patient must quietly endure this as
the sign of his infallible cure, since, even if he becomes a great,
deal worse, this must be ascribed, in strict obedience to the dictates
of Hahnemann, (see Organon, § 152,) to the beneficial effect of the
drug, rather than to the influence of idiosyncrasy or to any other
cause ; whereas the allopathist, judiciously considering that no
substance whatever acts absolutely and unconditionally, that many
influences frequently alter the general effect of medicines, that
some unexpected idiosyncrasy may prevail, &c, all of which are
known to him by his experience or literary acquirements, will soon
observe his mistake, and remedy it in time by another careful

69

selection, until he has overcome such extraordinary obstacles.*
Exclusive of idiosyncrasy, the mind and body of the diseased
individual, generally differs from what they were in a healthy
state ; all his feelings, thoughts and resolutions are more or less
altered, so that physicians even, when sick themselves, are liable
to many errors, and are therefore forced to call in the aid of a col-
league. Pleasures to which we are accustomed when in health,
such as the use of wine, coffee, segars, &c, generally grow dis-
gusting to us when sick. This peculiarity extends even to those
changes of the human body, which are established upon the fun-
damental laws of organized bodies, and which should therefore not
be considered as diseased conditions ; pregnancy, for instance, if
even otherwise quite normal, frequently causes great changes in
the physical actions of certain substances, so that healthy females
in this situation are unable to bear, what in other situations affords
them peculiar comfort ; to say nothing of their singular and often
irresistible propensities and other mental affections, frequently aris-
ing from want of a good education and from popular prejudices.

All experiments with drugs upon healthy persons must further
appear very delusive, if we consider the constant influence of
the mind and the nervous excitement generally attending such
experiments. When a healthy or sick person is attentively ex-

* We were recently amused with a curious but true narrative, showing the obsti-
nate and implicit faith of homoeopathists in the tenets and dictates of their doctrine,
which was told to us by a professional man, to whom the patient afterwards applied.
In a large American city, a German merchant excessively enraptured with homoeopa-
thia, and forcing this " great treasure" upon his fellow-citizens by his constant obtru-
sive solicitations, induced a man, suffering from giddiness, to apply to his easy-and-
quick-curing homoeopathic doctor. As the patient grew daily worse after swallowing
or smelling, we do not know exactly, a few atoms of some developed antipsoric
" drug-virtue," he complained to the doctor, and was consoled with the assurance
that this was the intended effect of the drug, being its "salutary counter-operation."
After continuing the old, or some new developed drug-virtue for several weeks, the
indisposition increased, the giddiness, which before intermitted for hours or days,
became constant, and the patient, on going down stairs, fell, and was near breaking
his neck. The patient remonstrated with the all-curing doctor, and on telling him
that he had almost broken his neck, the doctor jumped up joyfully, and cheerfully
laughing, exclaimed, "Oh! excellent! delightful! that is just the salutary after-
" operation for which I so much wished ! now you must believe yourself completely
" cured !" The indignant patient, fearing a still more developed, similar after-ope-
ration, abandoned this frothy simpleton, applied to the allopathic physician mentioned
above, and was soon cured of his giddiness by rational treatment. — This mode of
saying to patients who feel no relief, or even feel worse, " you are mistaken, you
" must not only feel much alleviated, but must now consider yourself completely
" cured," is very common with homoeopathic practitioners : it does not always arise
from intentional imposition, or from this modern mode of quackery, but may frequently
be ascribed only to the very characteristics of all honest fanatics, who, unconsciously
blind to the light of truth, would make the whole world so, if they could, even by
willingly sacrificing all that is dearest to them.

70

amining his own pulse, or the aperture of his own pupil, they often
change from one moment to another, very remarkably, merely in
consequence of the influence of the mind. Should the person be
conscious of having taken a medicine for experiment, and of being
watched attentively for its effects, he will undoubtedly present
many symptoms which do not depend the least on the drug, but
which are produced only by his mental excitement. This must
be still more the case when he is already familiar with the ex-
pected symptoms, and therefore prepossessed, or even much inter-
ested in the result, by ambition, by scientific zeal, or by a similar
cause. It is therefore not surprising that experiments, with the
same drugs, minutely instituted on healthy persons, by others
with less prejudice and with more caution against error, as for
instance, those instituted by Professor Joerg at Leipzig, with his
students, have led to results, which, though likewise totally at
variance with all experience of their effect in diseases, are very
different from those of Hahnemann, who anxious to multiply the
morbid drug-symptoms produced by his experiments, has in-
creased these symptoms to an enormous number : for instance,
those of bark, which already amount to 1,1-43, (see Hahnemann's
Reine Arzneyrnittellehre, or Materia Medica, Vol. III.,) and which
will increase still more at pleasure, with the continuance of
such delusive experiments.* Fortis imaginatio generat casum.
Let one drop of water, coloured by any indifferent admixture, be
administered to a person, especially if disposed to mental excitement,
with the understanding that it is an active drug, which will pro-
duce numerous definite symptoms, all of which are to be minutely
written down, by a close cross-examinator, and it is more than
probable, that he will feel all the presumed effects and many more.
How much prudent precaution must every circumspective physi-
cian take, not to be imposed on or misled by stories of his patients,
mostly involuntarily arising only from their physical and mental
excitements. Physicians, frequently prepossessed by a professional
hobby, be it that they consider all diseases as inflammatory, venous,

* It appears that Hahnemann sometimes is duped in return by his disciples We
are at least told by a trustworthy yoUng phvsieian, now in this countiy, who after he
had finished his studies in France and Germany, had lived for some months with
Hahnemann, chiefly to become acquainted with his mode of treatment, that he was
frequently induced by his fellow-students to follow their example, and make to Hah-
nemann fictitious statements about the drug-symptoms, after new trials with such
drugs as he made them take. Hahnemann appeared confidently to believe the most
absurd and ridiculous reports, and wrote them down with great satisfaction, probably
tor a new work, or for the next edition of one of hi* old "gigantic" works

71

nervous, gastric, &c, or as arising from morbid affections of the
heart, liver, &c, or from syphilis, itch, &c, must therefore be par-
ticularly cautious, not to elicit, by their cross-examinations, false
statements from their patients.

In viewing theoretically these experiments with different drugs
on healthy persons, in order to ascertain effects corresponding
to the symptoms of different diseases, it would appear strange, and
contrary to ail former experiments, if they should ever lead to sa-
tisfactory results.

Health must be considered as that state in which the individual
fulfils with intensive and extensive vital energy, its destination in
respect to its natural species, to its age, and to the circumstances
in which it lives, and must necessarily be accompanied by com-
fortable physical and mental feelings, as the natural consequences
of the perfectly harmonious actions of all the integrant parts con-
stituting the individual whole. Whenever this harmony is dis-
turbed to such a degree that this destination cannot be performed,
or that his feelings become uncomfortable, a more or less con-
siderable diseased state exists. We may justly suppose the manifes-
tation of all life, and of course also of both those states of organized
beings in general, to be the product of two factors — one founded
on the innate capacity to become affected by, and to react upon
the agents external to the living body, and thus to preserve the
particular characteristics of their individual life, (physical ego-
tism, or subjective condition of life) ; the other originating from
the action of the external agents themselves, (objective conditions
of life) which instigate and entertain the action of the former, but
are contemporaneously so restricted and modified by the same, that
those agents lose, to a certain degree, their properties usually ob-
servable in physical nature, and also a part of those which may be
considered as peculiar to the whole species to which the individual
belongs. Thus caloric, electricity, poisons, &c. lose not only a
part of their physical properties in all living bodies, but also pecu-
liarly in every single individual, though often in so slight a degree
that we cannot perceive it; facts which have made hitherto all exact
definitions of the term poison impossible. All attempts to explain
life in another manner might appear either inconsistent with our
intellect, and experience, or will contain the same sense expressed
in different words ; since thereby we can best explain the physical
dualism prevalent in all the actions of nature, and its extinction

72

by commutation into a third, both uniting together, viz., absolute
self-action of two opposite powers, and their mutual restriction, in
order to form a third action resulting from them. — It follows, how-
ever, therefrom, that the healthy and diseased states are so far
identical, that both are subject to the same general laws of orga-
nized living bodies, and that in both states the individual is equally
liable to the loss of his life by agents absolutely destructive ; but,
nevertheless, the difference between both states is very prominent
to a certain degree ; for instance, poisons acting dynamically,
are often used as antidotes with decided benefit in doses capable
of destroying the life of the same individual when healthy ; a fact
which induced the intelligent Greek, with all the richness of his
language, to use one and the same term for poisons and medicines.
It naturally follows from the conditions of life in health and disease
just mentioned, that nothing in the world can act unconditionally
upon the living body, not even those agents which destroy life,
since it is probable that, however unconditional the final fatal re-
sults of such deleterious agents may appear to us, they must never-
theless be regarded as a compound product of the agent itself, and
of the state of the living body, at the moment the former acted.
The same portion of a strong poison, for instance, does not kill all
individuals equally quick, nor in exactly the same manner. We
may allude not only to the differences in the decomposition of
dead bodies varying in proportion to the absolute strength of the
destructive agent ; for instance, so far we know the equally quick
decomposition of all animals killed by lightning, &c. ; but, where
the agent was in itself less destructive, and all the circumstances
alike, the time and degiee of the decomposition differ according to
the difference of the vital energy which existed before death.
Thus the fatal disease being precisely the same, the corpses of
children are generally decomposed less quickly than those of adults,
probably because the vital reproductive power being much more
lively in them, it cannot be reduced, during life, so quickly as in
adults, and because their mental capacities are less developed ; as ge-
nerally theaction of themind inadults exhausts the vital powers and
hence the corpses of some lunatics also decompose less quickly. One
and the same cause may therefore produce the most different diseases
and their symptoms, according to the different states of the indivi-
dual upon whom it operated. Every one will admit that to-day
we escape unhurt from those agents which to-morrow may make us

dangerously ill. Intemperance in food and drink, cold, passions,
<fcc, will occasion, in a number of persons, either none or the most
different diseases, and of course also their different symptoms, and
it is rare for one cause to produce uniformly the same disease.
Hahnemann, well aware of these facts, acknowledged by common
sense and daily experience, was forced to the greatest absurdity
ever committed by man, in claiming for his drugs and for his ex-
periments an unconditional operation. Had this not been the
case, he would have indirectly admitted, that all his fortunate
cures might be ascribed, not to his atoms, but to a strict diet, mental
excitement, or other causes ; he would have indirectly admitted,
that a great many, if not all diseases, presenting, of course, dif-
ferent symptoms, might be cured altogether by one and the same
drug, and that his whole materia medica might be reduced to a
few, or even to one medicine. Thus, if he had admitted that table-
salt and flint, as well as causticum and calcaria, did not act un-
conditionally, but that each of them, from different circumstances,
might produce different symptoms in healthy persons, as he solely
referred to their similarity in natural diseases, he might have sub-
stituted one of these four for each of the others, and thus, perhaps, also
one for all his other drugs. The quackery of his whole doctrine
would have been more evident, as he must then recommend for all
diseases, on account of the frequent, similarity of their symptoms, a
panacea, or one universal remedy, which, being a simple drug, would
have been credited by no one. He was forced, for these simple rea-
sons, to contradict all experience and principles of the profession, and
to reject even the smallest allopathic doses of drugs, being cunning
enough to expect the unavoidable downfall of his whole doctrine
at its first outset, even in the eyes of the most stupid, if, instead
of his chimerical atoms of drugs, which are absolutely equal to
nothing, the smallest allopathic doses were used ; for instance,
if, instead of the common remedies to check vomiting or diarrhoea,
common doses of emetics and cathartics should be given in addi-
tion. We may predict therefore also with the greatest proba-
bility that, whenever homoeopathists resolve to exchange their
fanciful doses for common ones, as many do already secretly from
hypocrisy, and as all of them will soon be forced to do, especi-
ally in urgent cases, their whole doctrine will cease to exist on
account of its palpable injury. — It is one of the most satisfactory
experiences in rational medicine, which alone may be considered

10

74

snfficient to destroy the whole homoeopathic doctrine, and to out-
weigh all the suggestions of Hahnemann, that in some diseases,
where the physiological and pathogenetical relations between cause
and its effect are more clearly understood, and where, at the same
time, the modus operandi of a drug is more fully ascertained, the
drug loses its usual characteristic influence upon the body when in
health, or when affected by a disease which either did not correspond
from its beginning to the specific quality of the drug, or has ceased
to do so in the successful progress of the treatment. Under such
circumstances a drug may, therefore, be administered with the
greatest benefit in doses a hundred times larger than the same in-
dividual would bear in his healthy state, until that disease is ex-
tinguished, when the drug immediately readopts its detrimental
influence. This is the case, for instance, with mercury in syphilitic
diseases, during which persons, who, when healthy, cannot take one
grain without being salivated, may takeitfor a length of time without
this effect, until the disease is cured. A similar effect of this remedy
we observe also in all genuine inflammatory diseases of the mucous
membranes, especially of the respiratory organs, such as croup,
bronchitis, &c, in which the mercury appears only to operate against
the disease itself, and to neutralize, almost chemically, its cause,
viz., the increased plastic tendency of these membranes, without
any material influence upon the salivary glands, until the disease
begins to subside, when the mercury immediately reassumes its
noxious effect. The same may be said of bark and its prepara-
tions in intermittent fevers, and in other periodical diseases. In
such cases, if we should conclude, from the effect of the drug ad-
ministered in health, upon its effect in disease, we should be very
much mistaken. It is as inconsistent with reason and with sound
pathogenetical conceptions of diseases generally, to suppose that
drugs, administered to a healthy person, would ever produce such
symptoms of diseases, and much less that the latter themselves re-
semble or correspond to those which are termed natural diseases,
as it would be to believe the same definite product arising from
two factors would continue to be the same, if one factor is changed,
or both disproportionally. Let Hahnemann administer his drugs to
healthy persons by ounces or by atoms; by what other arguments
than his deceitful experiments can he prove that the ounces or atoms
of his drugs contain, qualitate as well as qnantitatc, the same mor-
bific agents as the atmosphere, the soil,&c. offer? Admitted even

75

the foolish supposition of a qualitative identity or similarity, must
we not adopt the still greater absurdity, that his ounces or atoms
are far more powerful than all natural agents, miasmata, contagia,
&.c. since, with the most noxious influences of the latter, during the
prevalence of the most fatal epidemics, thousands escape, but from his
drug-diseases, as he asserts, not one individual can escape, because
they always act absolutely and unconditionally ? Although this
will be explained more fully in discussing the second maxim of
the homoeopathic doctrine, we mention here only, that as all life
is to be considered as a definite product of the two factors, vary-
ing within certain limits in each individual at every moment, and
in every state, but always under the supposition of the harmonious
action of all the systems and organs when in health, it evidently
results from our objections just mentioned, that the disturbance
of this definite product or harmonious action by a drug, cannot
admit of any sound conclusion upon the effect of the same drug,
when the product is already altered by the change of one or both
factors, or more briefly, when the body is sick. Who but an
idiot can imagine, that two different products, the one presenting
the healthy, the other the diseased state, could be changed by any
third factor into two other products, which are either identical or
diametrically opposite to one another ; the latter must however be
the case, when the same drug which makes the healthy sick, makes
the sickly healthy.

For these palpable reasons, the conclusions respecting the action
of a substance upon the diseased state from its action in health,
must lead to the grossest mistakes; just as if we were to conclude,
from the beneficial influence of the bright day-light on healthy
eyes, that it must be also beneficial in those diseases in which pho-
tophobia is the prominent symptom, and in which the patient
must be anxiously shielded from the light until he is cured by
proper remedies, and even then must be gradually accustomed to
bear it. The experiments with drugs on healthy persons may be
considered in certain respects, though by far less scientific and
more fanciful, similar to many physiological experiments on living
animals, which also have sometimes led to very false conclusions,
since tortured nature will present phenomena totally different from
those where nature is left free and undisturbed ; just as the pages
of history, stained by the reports of tortured men, prove that this
disgracefully barbarous manner of eliciting statements, has murd-

76

ered more innocent persons than it lias brought guilty ones to
punishment.

The first fundamental principle of homreopathia before us, if we
dare call it so, is so intimately connected with thesecond, which may
more properly deserve that term, viz: " similia similibus curantur,
that we must now discuss them together. The objections already
offered will appear to the impartial critic as sufficient, clearly to
prove that, if the result of any experiment with a drug, upon
a healthy individual, admits of no correct conclusion as to the
salutary effect of the same drug when applied to the same
individual, in its corresponding natural disease ; all such experi-
ments, instituted with a view to draw practical inferences, in respect
to all individuals of one species when similarly affected, must a
fortiori lead to the greatest errors and mistakes. Such experiments
may be interesting for some physiological and pathological in-
quiries and may lead indirectly to valuable results, by the detection
of specific medicinal properties contained in substances, if they are
instituted with a minute knowledge of theoretical and practical
medicine, and with an unprejudiced mind. The profession would be
thankfully indebted to Hahnemann, for some discoveries ascribed
to him, if he had acted in this manner; but in our opinion, even if
his suggestions and statements in regard to his drug-sickness were
as true, as most of them are false, a safe leading principle for
medical practice never can or will be drawn from them.

The second maxim of Hahnemann's doctrine constitutes homoeo-
pathia itself: it asserts by "similia similibus curantur," that all
diseases will be most safely and quickly cured, by minutely regard-
ing the symptoms only, which are presented to the close observer
in each natural disease, and that such simple drugs only, which
produce in healthy persons symptoms most similar to the symp-
toms of the natural disease in question, will also be not only the
proper but the only medicines for a direct or safe cure. Thus for
instance, calomel if taken by a healthy person will generally pro-
duce salivation, and if continued long enough, ulcers on the gums,
in the throat, &c; homoeopathia therefore considers calomel as the
best remedy where such symptoms are observed ; opium produces
in healthy persons drowsiness, stupor, costiveness, &c, it must
therefore be considered as the best remedy for the cure of diseases
marked by drowsiness, stupor, costiveness, (fee. Hahnemann, well
aware that these assertions could not for a moment be supported

77

by experiments made with common doses of medicines, because
calomel taken for salivation, or opium forcostiveness, in allopathic
doses, would soon, and not excepting one among many thousands,
increase the symptoms and all the dangers of the disease, was
therefore, as stated above, forced into the other absurdity, that these
and all other homoeopathic drugs are to be applied only in doses
which cannot be rendered too small by the process of dilutions or
triturations. The latter forming, however, the third proposition or
maxim of homceopathia, we shall discuss it hereafter.

The medical profession was before Hahnemann's doctrine, and
is as yet, generally divided into the following three principal classes,
not to mention their numerous subdivisions: The first class, or
the mere theorists, explain the nature and proximate causes of
diseases not arising from external mechanical injury, by general
principles drawn from their knowledge of the universal physical
powers of nature, from the various changes and modifications pro-
duced by the different structure and functions of organized living
bodies in general, and particularly by the human body, from
anatomy, physiology, psychology, &c. They are more in favor of
general hypothetical causes and of some medical system, than of
experience. In their pathogeny and therapeutics they refer particu-
larly to the different external influences to which the patient was
exposed before he fell sick, to the general symptoms which the three
systems of the human body, the nervous, the vascular and re-
productive present, to the chemical qualities of drugs, &c, and not to
special symptoms and to the hiere empirical adhibition of medicines.
They are generally men of distinguished learning and talent, to
whom the theory of medicine owes great improvements, but they
are not practical men; being, by their too lively and too predomi-
nant imaginations, less able to institute minute observations, and to
act with sufficient impartiality and circumspection than to speculate
They are the poets, or at least les beaux esprits of the profession.

The second class, or the mere empirics, despise generally all
theoretical sciences and reasoning. Without reference to causes,
they regard only the symptoms of diseases offered to them by the
palpable functional disorders in the systems, organs and parts of
the human body, and the medicines recommended as the best
specifics for removing the symptoms. Considering all physiologi-
cal and pathogenetical researches as nugatory and useless, they
rely principally on the prescriptions contained in the text-books on

78

materia medica and therapeutics, or on other practical statements.
If they, from professional consciousness or from scientific interest,
are not. satisfied with the practical knowledge acquired as students,
or by their own experience, but are eager and susceptible of modern
discoveries, then they are much more fascinated by a new symptom,
and new definite mode of treating a disease, or still more by a new
medicine recommended as a specific, than by the greatest dis-
coveries in physiology and the acutest elucidations in pathogeny
and general therapeutics. Mostly from want of a thorough pro-
fessional education, prepossessed with implicit self-confidence and
very liberal in their prognosis, and in their promises of quick and
safe cures, they generally enjoy the confidence of the public; though
in fact, they are the common labourers of the profession. Without
being in favour or conscious of any general principle, their treat-
ment regards particularly the maxim, " contraria contrariis cu-
rantur," or that the diseases are to be treated by such medicines
as are known to operate oontrary to the symptoms ; for instance if
a person is costive, they prescribe cathartics ; if the pulse of the
patient is full, hard, quick, frequent, and the feverish excitement
predominates, they bleed, leech, &c, even if these symptoms
originate in opposite causes ; or also, they attempt to substitute for
the existing disease, one of minor importance, and they do this
likewise without any judicious reason, and merely from their own
experience, or from statements contained in books ; thus they pre-
scribe powerful cathartics, leeches, blisters, or similar revulsives, to
generate a hemorrhoidal flux, or to cause an artificial exanthema,
when the brain or the lungs appear seriously affected, &c, whether
or not this course is indicated by a circumspective reference to the
true cause, and to particular important circumstances. Hahne-
mann in his classification calls the latter, more properly, allopa-
thists, and the former of this second class, antipathists, from " avn
opposite, and «u6o 5 disease," or also enantiopathists, from " svavriog
contrary," butas both of these belong to our second class, and do not
act similar to, (0^010^) but different from (dXhoTos) the symptoms of
the disease, they may both be, and are now generally embraced
under the term allopathists, or more correctly alloeopathists.

Hahnemann and his followers give the latter name to all
those physicians who are not in favour of homceopathia, and
therefore, of course, particularly to those belonging to the third
class, who endeavour to combine the principles and maxims

79

of theoretical medicine with the results of faithful observation
and experience. Whenever it appears to their judgment, formed
by a minute knowledge of all professional and collateral
sciences and by their philosophical investigation, that a definite
cause of the disease may justly be supposed, they do not reflect
much upon the symptoms, but endeavour to remove the cause; but
where the existence of such a cause cannot be explained by phy-
siological reasons, they follow the directions which asound diagnosis,
based on the results of post mortem examinations, on a minute
symptomatology, &c. assign to them, in accordance with the many
faithful experiences on record. They value general pathogene-
tical and therapeutical principles more than naked experience,
though in regard to the exclusive general modes of treatment, par-
tially propounded in the so called medical systems, they are sceptics
or rather eclectics, convinced that no medical system has stood
or can stand the full test of impartial experience, although most
of them contain, more or less, some valuable truths. They never
lose sight of any thing which could, even distantly, benefit the
profession, but nevertheless they are not influenced by any autho-
rity, and are anxious to remove even the delusive impressions
of their own fortunate experiences, in order to individuate every
case minutely and without the least preconception They are the
true artists of the profession and deserve the name of physicians,
in preference to all the others ; though being, from their want of
implicit self-confidence, and from their contempt of even a refined
charlatanism, cautious in their prognosis, and incapable of making
definite promises of cure, they are seldom deservedly esteemed by
the majority of the public, and enjoy merely the respect and confi-
dence of its well educated and enlightened minority.

Hahnemann, as a homoeopathist, belongs, if to any, most properly
to the lowest rank of the second class, or to the rude empirics, not-
withstanding all the abortive exertions of his followers to elevate his
doctrine to the highest order of rational medicine, and to reflect
on themselves all the great respect, admiration and gratitude which
they believe due to him as the eminent reformer in medicine, and
as the greatest benefactor of mankind. The principal difference
between Hahnemann and the empirical allopathists consists in
his maxim, " similia similibus curantur being the reverse of
" theirs, contraria contrariis curantxirP Both of them, but Hah-
nemann particularly, are opposed to all reasoning about the causes

80

of diseases, which they consider not only useless but absurd, be-
lieving that we know nothing about the causes and are therefore
not authorized to form any conjecture or opinion from them. .

As Dr. Hering's " Concise View" is very defective with regard to
Hahnemann's exposition of the theory of homceopathia, we are
obliged, respecting this subject, to refer more particularly to Hah-
nemann's Organon, and to the different introductory treatises of
his large work, entitled, " Heine Arzneymittcllehre" or Pure Ma-
teria Medica, because its six volumes do not contain, like all works
on materia medica hitherto known, the physical and medical pro-
perties of drugs and their application in different diseases, but
merely the results of his experiments on healthy persons with
about sixty simple drugs, many of which are either long since con-
sidered by the profession as obsolete, or were introduced by him. It
is almost impossible to follow exactly the track of his intellect, if it
may be called so, on account of the total want of any logical order
and consistency, and the many retractions and contradictions
which we meet with in all his writings.

Hahnemann himself, by giving to his homoeopathic doctrine the
sublime name of " nature's law," says, (Organon § § 23 et seq.,)
that he is quite indifferent as to any scientific explanation. The
very name " homceopathia" and still more his explicit maxim,
61 similia similibus curantur," suppose however something like a
theory ; and we shall prove by the following extract from his re-
marks upon the infallibility of his " new art. of healing," that he
has some theoretical explanations in view, which, in the eyes of his
adherents, are considered as highly scientific and acute.

Hahnemann suggests, in different places of his works, and par-
ticularly in his Organon, the following theory of his homcoopathic
pathogeny and therapeutics. The vital powers of the human body
become, by some accident generally unknown, affected with a na-
tural disease ; upon this affection, the vital powers react auto-
matically, either with a force too little and insufficient to remove
the disease, or in such a clumsy, violent, and noxious manner, like
the treatment of all allopathic physicians, that the patient must
either succumb and die, or must bear sufferings, which, taking the
place of the first affection, are generally worse than the original
disease. Nature, unaided by homoeopathic remedies, can seldom
effect a cure, and much less can a cure be performed by an allo-
pathic treatment, which, in hundreds of cases, may fortunately

81

cure only one patient. As every disease is only a dynamical
distemper of the vital powers, manifesting itself by sensations and
actions, and therefore discoverable only by our senses; and again,
as this corresponds to the symptoms which are caused by the use
of drugs in healthy persons ; the disease cannot only be cured
by this drug, but the latter, administered in a dose, however small,
or in any degree of dilution, is always stronger, or more powerful
in its action, than the natural disease, and thus the drug always
possesses more power than is necessary to extinguish the disease.
Although the original disease is destroyed by this extinction at
all events, still a certain quantity of a slight drug-sickness always
remains, which may now be left for its total extinction to the vital
power; this secures for the patient a safe, quick and durable recovery.

If we were allowed the comparison, in regard to a subject which,
according to some passages in Hahnemann's work, must be con-
sidered as immaterial, we should say that the surplus quantity
of the drug-sickness always left, after it had extinguished the
natural disease, appears similar to the margin of a spot overreach-
ing by its greater size the spot extinguished or covered ; we know
no better expression, since he himself always uses the term " ex-
tinguish." We conclude from this suggestion of Hahnemann,
which occurs frequently in his writings and in those of his ad-
herents, that drugs do not act by their matter but by the infinite
power or virtue developed from them; that this power must always
be considered paramount to the power of the disease, and that it is
impossible to give too small a dose of any drug, since the margin
Left by the covering drug could easily be too large to be extinguished
by the impotent vital power, without which a recovery appears to
him impossible.

This abstract of Hahnemann's doctrine presents one of the innu-
merable inconsistencies with which all his writings abound, and
which cannot be explained, even by admitting the maxim itself to be
correct and his explanations to be intelligible. In §45 of his Organon
he says, " Great nature herself has for homoeopathic instruments to
" cure diseases, as we have seen, the following stationary miasmata,
11 viz. : itch, measles and the small-pox, which, as remedies, are
" much more dangerous and terrible, than the disease to be cured
" by them, (as small-pox or measles) or which (as the itch) re-
" quire to be destroyed, after having performed their cure ;" and
hi the next section § 16, he says, " But see what great advantage

11

82

" man has over rude nature's accidental events ! How many thou-
" sands of homoeopathic powers to generate diseases, are at man's
" disposal, to aid his fellow brethren by means of drugs which are
" spread over the whole creation ! In them he possesses the power
" of making diseases, as various as the innumerable natural dis-
" eases, conceivable or not, to which he can afford homoeopathic
" aid. They are morbid powers, the force of which is extinct
" after the cure, and which require no other mode to extinguish
" them in turn, like the itch. They are morbid influences, (drugs)
" which the physician can dilute and divide, until they reach the
" very frontier of infinity, and the dose of which he can diminish
" until they are only a little stronger than the similar natural
" disease to be cured by them, so that this unparalleled method
" requires no violent assault on the organism to cure an old chro-
" nic and obstinate disease, and the transition from a state of the
" greatest sufferings to one of perfect health, so much wished for,
" is easy, imperceptible, and, nevertheless, often expeditious."
Leaving out of view the palpable nonsense contained in these
lines, and the rude conceptions which, by a tedious study we
might possibly derive, that any thing could adhere to the living
body, as a hat, a cloak, or coloured spot does to a wall, without
affecting the vital powers so as to be, partly at least, a product of
their own independent action ; we may ask, why, according to
these statements, cannot nature alone cure the bodily disease
better, or at least just as well, without the interference of the ho-
moeopathic drug? If nature is as strong as the drug, then the
application of the drug is unnecessary for the removal of the symp-
toms. If nature is stronger than the drug, then she will, if left
to herself, a fortiori, and much easier than the latter, remove the
whole disease at once, or a part of it immediately, and the remnant
afterwards also ; just as well, as Hahnemann states, she can re-
move the remnant surplus of the curing drug-sickness. If the
drug is stronger than the " miserable and automatically acting
vital powers," and the latter only strong enough to extinguish the
surplus always left by the former, as Hahnemann unequivocally
asserts on pp. 16 and 17 of his Organon ; then we may ask, why
he does not dilute or triturate his drugs still more, until it is suf-
ficiently weak or mild, so as not to leave to the miserable vital
powers any remnant to remove ? He is then not obliged to trust to
the automatically and clumsy acting vital powers such an important

83

task, because the infinitely developed drug-virtues at his disposal
would always enable him to cure his patient in this manner much
more quickly ; for should the dilution be too mild to extinguish
the symptoms and to remove the disease, he would always be at
liberty, and we should thinki it more advisable, to apply again
another dose of the developed drug-virtue, rather than to risk any
interference of the allopathically and awkwardly acting vital
powers. If Hahnemann considers this work too difficult for his vir-
tues developed from drugs, it is palpable nonsense first to claim for
the latter a power always absolute and unconditional, and to admit
immediately afterwards, that this power is checked by such a trifling
obstacle ! How can it be reconciled with common sense, that the
vital powers are too weak and insufficient to remove any natural
disease or its symptoms, be they ever so trifling, without the aid of a
homoeopathic drug, and nevertheless are powerful enough to re-
move the remaining part of the drug-sickness which is left after
the natural disease is extinguished ! Can any one comprehend
that a power should be capable of overcoming a large obstacle
and, however, be incapable of removing at the same time a similar
and comparatively much smaller one ! — Omne majus continet
in se minus. — Hahnemann despises the living powers of nature so
much, that he thinks them unable, without the aid of his ho-
moeopathic drug-atoms to contribute any thing to the cure of
disease, and yet thinks them energetic enough to remove the much
stronger disease or symptoms, caused by administering drugs to
healthy persons; the drug-sickness being, as he states, stronger than,
though similar to, the natural one? Is this because the vital powers
are to be considered unimpaired and more energetic in health,
while in disease they are miserable and weak ? Then it is dif-
ficult to explain the attack of any natural or drug-sickness in
health otherwise than by a kind of surprise, a " ruse de guerre"
of the natural or drug-sickness. In a healthy person there is,
of course, no symptom to be extinguished, no spot to be cover-
ed, no disease to be cured ; when a drug is administered, the
morbid affection is the mere effect of the drug, or the pure unmixed
drug-sickness ; this being always stronger than the natural dis-
ease, we would ask : how can the vital powers remove from healthy
persons the presumed stronger and absolutely acting power of the
drug after its drug-sickness has become manifest, when they

84

cannot resist or remove any weaker natural disease, if surprised by-
it, without homoeopathic aid ? This becomes more evident by the
following explanation : If we call V the vital power, D the power
of the drug, and N the natural disease ; D = N and D < V, would
make N < V ; N < D, according to Hahnemann's general
proposition, makes, a fortiori, N < V ; but his assertion N > V
in a person attacked with a natural disease, and V > D in the same
person when healthy and a drug is applied, would make, a fortiori,
N > D, contrary to his proposition, or to his cure of N by D, which
is palpable nonsense. What power removes in healthy persons the
artificially generated drug-sickness? In what disease does it termi-
nate ? What benevolent miracle or spirit, of the many at the dis-
posal of the great philosopher, does here rescue the miserable and
wantonly " infected" professional martyr from his sufferings which,
as we should think, must continue till he breathes no more, after
such an experiment, if he is not released ? Hahnemann, to be con-
sistent, must here invoke a deus ex machina, or those unfortunate
persons, whom he has bereaved of their precious health, by sub-
jecting them to his baneful experiments, will not recover, until he
applies another drug as an antidote, which generates another drug-
sickness ; but as the same, if not greater, difficulties arise from this
also, by again extinguishing too little, he must again apply to a new
antidote, and so again and again, ad infinitum, without ever at-
taining his desired end. But we find nothing of this mentioned in
his experiments on his healthy disciples and others ; they were, as
it appears, all doing very well, after they had presented, for a short
time, to their great master, the most remarkable mental and occa-
sionally also, some physical symptoms of the artificially produced
drug-sicknesses, though they were forced to swallow doses of drugs,
sufficient to make the most healthy and stout person dangerously
ill for months ; as we shall soon see. On the contrary we find,
page 213 of the Organon, the following singular suggestion : " Ex-
" perience shows, that the organism of the individual trying the
" drugs, becomes, by these repeated attacks upon his healthy
" state, more adroit in repelling all artificial and natural morbid
" nuisances, and grows more hardened against all injury by these
" moderate self-experiments with drugs. His health will be less
" exposed to any alteration, and, according to all experience, he
" will get more robust." This also is a new and luminous idea,
which this " great philosopher" teaches to the world, hitherto so

85

short-sighted and ignorant as to believe, that every attack upon
health and every disease injure the constitution more or less,
and that a person will always, in direct proportion to his immunity
from previous diseases, be less subject to new attacks from morbid
influences. But we see that persons are much more subject to a
relapse of a natural disease, for instance, of intermittent fevers,
coughs, &c, than if they had never before been affected by them ;
homoeopathists,of course,will say that natural diseases are inflicted by
the " clumsy and stupid" powers of nature, and have not undergone
such a high refinement as " the crude articles" which, by homeo-
pathic manipulations, lose all their original matter, " and are no
" longer possessed of their prejudicial character, 1 ' (see c. v. p. 14). —
How great the hopes of longevity to be attained in this easy man-
ner ! Even the poor druggists, who will now soon be ruined men
altogether, (see Dr. Hering's c. v. page 4), would have been saved
by Samuel Hahnemann, if his doses of drugs were only a little
less fanciful, since every one would, of course, be anxious to obtain
long life and health so easily.

The opinion hitherto entertained by all men of common sense,
viz: that the surest, safest and shortest way to remove any effect
is to remove its cause, is much ridiculed and despised by Hahne-
mann and his followers ; " Cessante causa, cessat etiam effectus"
has hitherto been considered an axiom by all wise men. — " Felix qui
" rerum potest cognoscere causas."( Virg.) — The " old philosopher"
however, " who boldly penetrated into the mysteries of nature," has
resolved otherwise, and explains the laws of nature as he under-
stands them. — It is true that in order to substantiate fully the mean
ingof this axiom, we should know the cause. But in most cases
we cannot, and we must confess that Providence in His infinite
wisdom and mercy has not thought it beneficial for our happiness
during our present existence, that we should know any thing cer-
tain about the first cause, and many of its subsequent effects, which
appear to us only as causes, " non enim nos Deus ista scire sed
" tantummodo uti voluti,"( Cicero de Div) — To promote our know-
ledge and improve our intellect, we must therefore adopt in all
sciences, not based on mathematical calculations, certain more or
less definite hypotheses which temporally explain best the pheno-
mena in view. Since mankind left the sad period of its infancy,
men endowed with distinguished intellect and with an ardent zeal
for truth, have been no longer satisfied with the mere sensual

86

observation of natural phenomena, but have been anxious to
investigate their causes, in order to deduce therefrom general prin-
ciples, so indispensable to the mental satisfaction and happiness of
man, and to all pursuits of social life. They were soon convinced
that the original causes were and would in most cases always
remain hidden from them, and they were therefore forced to frame
such hypothetical explanations of natural phenomena, as appeared
to them best adapted to comprise all phenomena belonging to one
class, and to deduce therefrom general fundamental principles for
further investigations. They were well aware that future dis-
coveries and inquiries might unveil their errors and annihilate their
hypotheses and conjectures ; but they were also convinced that the
observation of naked facts, would not only confine their higher
intellectual faculties too narrowly, but expose them also to more
hazard, than if they attempted to find the outlet of the labyrinth,
without the thread of Ariadne. Thus by accurately and impar-
tially observing phenomena and conjecturing their causes, a defi-
nite theory or a systematical doctrine was gradually constructed ;
that is, the abstract idea of what is common to all the facts be-
longing collectively to one class of phenomena, and under what
circumstances they always or usually happen. Had they acted
otherwise, and had they merely encumbered their memory with
innumerable single statements, their experience would have been
useful only in cases exactly similar to, or rather identical with,
those remembered by them; but such an accident might probably
not happen during many centuries, to whatever class the fact in
question belonged ; and hence all their knowledge would be en-
tirely useless in every new individual case, if they could not refer
to general principles, and if they were forced to abstain from all
hypotheses in regard to general causes. " Nemo enim alicujus rei
" naturam in ipsa re feliciter perscrutatur ; sed amplianda est
"inquisitio ad magis communia." (Bacon's Org.) — The value of
any hypothesis, with which even the practical departments of
mathematical sciences cannot dispense, depends upon the simila-
rity of the whole mass of facts on which the hypothesis is founded,
and upon the consistency as well as the facility with which this hy-
pothesis is applicable to similar new facts. All experiences in regard
to a fact, though instituted with due precaution against delusions
of our senses and against errors of judgment, logical conclusions,
<fcc, when it does not agree with the hypothesis laid down, mated-

87

ally impairs or destroys its validity. In some cases some philoso-
phers approve of one hypothesis, and others of another widely
different ; although both are derived from minute observations of
the same natural phenomena, both are equally acute and practi-
cable, and both equally stand even the test of mathematical calcu-
lations. This is the case, for instance, with the two hypotheses of
light: that of emanation adopted by Newton, and that of vibration
suggested by Euler, which has more advocates at present, in
consequence of the new interesting discoveries made by the late
Frauenhofer, by Brewster and others. — Men who adopt tenets,
prescriptions or results of naked facts, either self-created and ob-
served, or received with implicit faith from others, without admitting
the value of minute and repeated impartial investigations, or of any
rational theory or hypothesis about the possible causes, degrade
themselves to the level of common labourers or of credulous fana-
tics. — We have already mentioned the delusions of inferences
superficially drawn from facts, and that this is really the case in
regard to Hahnemann's experiments with drugs on healthy per-
sons. Had such a course as this been pursued with the investiga-
tions in natural sciences, from their origin to the present age, we
should know but very little or nothing really interesting and useful
in regard to the laws of nature, the great number of valuable facts not-
withstanding. — Another proof of Hahnemann's total want of sound
reflection, and of his blind adherence to rude empiricism is seen in
his combating with so much passion the unmerited credit given to
him by some of his indulgent opposers, who believed that he has
followed some rational principle in adopting the identity of natural
diseases and of those produced by his experiments on healthy
persons. In the introductory discourse to the third volume of his
Pure Materia Medica, he says, amongst other remarks of the same
kind, under the head of " nota bene for my reviewers, ' the follow-
ing : " Never was the homoeopathic doctrine intended to cure any
" disease by the same and identical potenz, by which it was gene-
rated, — this has been minutely explained to my foolish opposers,
" already often enough, but as it appears in vain. — No ! it cures
"naturally, only by a medicine never accordant with the cause of
" the disease ; never by an equal potenz, but only by a medicine
" capable of producing a similar diseased state (o'jwoiov irctOos.) Do
" not these people know even how to distinguish equal, (one and
the same), from similar ? Are they altogether homoeopathically

88

" sick by the same malady of idiotism T — Very true ! they deserve
this compliment from the great genius, who appears allopathically
sick of idiotism. — Had Hahnemann only asserted that according
to repeated experiments, drugs applied to healthy persons cause cer-
tain morbid alterations, manifested by definite symptoms similar to
tbose caused by unknown natural influences ; and that, therefore, as
the former are removed by certain drugs, the latter will also be cured
by the same; as, for instance, that belladonna produces symptoms
similar to those of scarlatina levigata, and that as the former are
mitigated or removed by acids, mercury, or whatever the treatment
may be, therefore the latter will be cured by the same remedies.*

* We believe that, if medical practice ever derives any advantage from fair trials
with drugs on healthy persons, it will be this. And it appears remarkable that Hah-
nemann, and particularly his followers, have not distantly thought of this plain and
reasonable meaning of the expression, " similia similibus curantur," which, if simply
translated, signifies only, that diseases which are similar to each other will be cured
by similar remedies. Rational medicine has hitherto, in some respects, followed a
similar course in some diseases ; thus it pays no regard to the shape, colour, duration,
extent, &c. of many chronic exanthematous diseases, which present so many varieties
and shades; but asks, whether it originates from a syphilitic, scrophulous or other in-
fection ; and if none of these causes can be ascertained, such remedies are admi-
nistered as prove generally useful in diseases of the reproductive system, attended by
chronic cutaneous eruptions. So too the rational physician will prescribe the same
remedies in very different blenorrhceas, as in phthisis pituitosa, chronic mucous diarr-
hoea, &c; convinced, by experience, of their salutary effect in one species, he will try
them in similar ones, without any other recommendation, when no special cause is
found to prevail; since he will reasonably conjecture, from the anatomical structure, and
the physiological functions of all the mucous membranes, that a remedy, which is
useful in one species of blenorrhoea will be so in another, and that in this respect, gleet,
chronic mucous bronchitis, the chronic affections of the large intestines consequent
on cholera, &c, are similar. Hahnemann's interpretation of similia similibus curan-
tur, would never have occurred to any intelligent man, and much less to an Albertus
Haller. If this great man recommends trials with simple drugs on healthy persons,
in saying, in the preface to the Pharmacopoeia Helvetica, Basil, 1771, p. 12, " Nempe
" primum in corpore sano medela tentanda est, sine peregrina ulla miscela," he did
so with the same views as those which, mutatis mutandis, led him to institute so
many cruel dissections of living animals ; well knowing that these could never be
directly useful to the treatment of diseases, he made them for highly interesting phy-
siological purposes, which have largely, though indirectly, contributed to promote
practical medicine. He likewise recommended trials with simple drugs on healthy
persons, certainly not in the sense of homoeopathia, but merely because he thought,
as does every judicious physician, that if made with care, they may contribute to show
particular effects of many drugs, which may lead indirectly to some results valuable
for the cure of diseases ; as many would try some newly discovered plant or other
substance to learn whether it contains wholesome nourishment, or some medical
property which may be successfully used in extraordinary cases, according to the
principle contrariacontrariis curantur, or to any other one : for instance, should such a
substance, produce costiveness or increase the appetite in healthy persons; it may
also alleviate or cure a chronic diarrhoea or dyspepsia. The history of medicine proves
that the healing art in its infancy has exclusively followed this mode. No one but
a man partial for extraordinary absurdities would fancy, that the intimate connection
between cause and effect, everywhere confirmed by the laws of the human intellect
and of nature, would be suspended in man, justly considered as the culmination of
nature ; and only an idiot will recommend a sound whipping with Urtica, (the stinging-
nettle) for a feverish exanthematous disease, called febris urlicata, (nettle-rash,) on
account of its great similarity with the appearance of the skin of those who are whipped
with the fresh plant mentioned!

89

His doctrine might not have essentially suffered by such a
theory, but might have appeared to rest at least upon some rational
connexion between cause and effect ; and therefore, if otherwise
not contradicted by minute and impartial experiments sufficiently
repeated, would have appeared less absurd, and perhaps would
have led to some valuable practical results. But what confidence
can any one, not prepossessed by implicit faith in the dictates of
others, place in a doctrine which teaches, contrary to common
sense and experience, that the similarity between two cases shall
form a leading principle for practice, so as to use the cause of one
effect for destroying another effect, seemingly similar in its symp-
toms, but evidently produced by a totally different cause? We see
nothing of this in nature. Two cubes, spheres, or bodies of
any other shape, and which may consist of very different
substances, cannot only be geometrically similar, but identical in
all their dimensions ; and nevertheless their reciprocal relations,
or those toward a third body, may vary very much or be diame-
trically opposite ; the one, for instance, may be of glass, and the
other of gold. The isomorphical formations of many minerals,
lately demonstrated by Professor Mitscherlich, at Berlin, prove that
the principal characteristics obvious to our senses in these cases, as
cohesion, colour, crystallization, &c. may be quite identical in two
or more minerals, although chemical analysis proves them to be
widely different from each other, in the absolute as well as relative
condition and proportion of their integral parts. Nature presents
to us, on the other side again, many isomerical substances, in which
the chemical analysis can find, neither a qualitative nor a quanti-
tative difference of their constituent parts, although their external
characteristics are quite dissimilar. Who would, for instance, judge,
from their external appearance, that a diamond and a piece of
charcoal, or graphite, of the same size, are the same in the eyes of
the modern analytical chemist ; and who but a Newton could have
predicted, from optical reasons, the combustibility of the diamond,
almost a century before Lavoisier proved it by his experiments !
Many plants, although very similar to each other, according to
the natural and artificial systems of botany, differ widely in their
action on the living animal body, and probably also in their
constituent parts ; as, for instance, the different species of Sola-
num. If therefore the laws of nature are more simple in minerals
than in plants, in these more so than in the lower classes of ani-

12

90

oials, and so on gradually until we arrive at the most compound
and perfect organization of man, whose existence depends partly
on the immaterial world of ideas and feelings ; and if, neverthe-
less, in the lowest of this series of bodies and beings, we meet with
an external similarity not corresponding with the real causes of
their true characteristics, by which the certainty of any conclusion,
from their similarity upon their causal identity, could be justified
beforehand : how much less probable must it be, a priori, that the
similarity of symptoms, generally observable under very different
conditions, in man, could admit of any satisfactory conclusion, as
to the similarity or identity of their causes also? Such superficial
and totally unphilosophical conclusions have always led, and will
still lead, if admitted, to the most erroneous conceptions ; which,
in their practical application, must unavoidably impair our own
happiness and that of our fellow-men. Thus we should soon wit-
ness the greatest injustice and foolish mistakes, if ever Lavater's
physiognomical or Gall's cranioscopical observations, should in the
least influence our manner of educating, or our criminal jurispru-
dence, because they rest on true and highly interesting facts, which
however have likewise led to very unphilosophical conclusions.

The symptomatical treatment of diseases has therefore always
been considered by the enlightened profession as very delusive and
uncertain, since different causes may present the same symptoms,
and vice versa; hence it is still adopted principally by the uneducated
and rude empirics, and is used by talented physicians only in urgent
cases, where the previous conditions and influences cannot be mi-
nutely ascertained, and where the causes of alarming symptoms
being unknown, dependance must be placed on the majority of ex-
periences on record, in which definite prescriptions were successfully
applied under certain prevailing symptoms. This mode is seldom
considered by rational physicians as affording more than a tem-
porary relief ; since frequently by removing the symptoms, the
disease itself is increased by increasing its cause, and by producing
all the great injuries of an indirect treatment. We may justly
assert that the mere symptomatic treatment lias hitherto arrested
the progress of the healing art, and has frequently elevated the
less talented and less learned physician over his better educated
and conscientious colleague in the eyes of the public, as they from
pardonable ignorance rely more on the immediate and palliative
temporary relief than on the less showy but preventive and radical

91

treatment of true rational medicine. Thus for instance, in sleep-
lessness and delirium, caused by genuine inflammatory cerebral
irritation, opium will perhaps subdue these prominent and also
alarming symptoms ; but unquestionably either the disease itself
will increase to a fatal issue after a short relief, or it will cause,
particularly in children, water in the brain, or a chronic and in-
curable nervous debility, which is often observed after a seeming
recovery has lasted for weeks or months. Hence a judicious phy-
sician will seldom prescribe such remedies as are only calculated to
subdue a prominent symptom, in cases where there is any hope of
a rational treatment, although the palliative method is often desired
by the patient or his relatives, from prejudices originating in the
rude empiricism of many doctors. We may with propriety com-
pare such treatment to that of many intellectual and moral faults,
where concessions made from temporary necessity or other minor
reasons, are also only of temporary avail, and rather promote the
commission of greater wrongs, though the latter would be best
prevented by a cure perhaps more protracted, but radical in render-
ing the individual sensible of his wrong. Empirics unable to con-
jecture the causes of the symptoms, adhere generally to those which
they have learned by heart, and if they accidentally meet with
symptoms which they do not remember, or which are not contained
in their text-books, they are at a loss how to begin with the patient.
To this search for symptoms, which must not be confounded with
the indispensable study of rational diagnosis, we owe principally
the anxious desire of the profession to enlarge the yet superabun-
dant stock of medicines, since if an empiric accidentally suc-
ceeds in removing a symptom already known, or recently discovered
by him, he at once obtrudes a new remedy on the profession, with
all the emphasis of a highly important discovery ; this however
is soon forgotten, as it generally fails in cases seemingly identical.
The mere symptomatic or indirect treatment of diseases is
the cause of all quackery in medicine, as a certain simple or
compound drug is generally recommended from ingorance or low
interest, for a certain number of symptoms termed collectively
by some technical name. And by this also the multitude of
our voluminous works on materia medica and special therapeutics
with all their minuteness and with their shining splendour of ex-
tensive learning, very few excepted, have hitherto retained, only
upon a larger scale, all the irrational and motley features of similar

92

older works, which led the mere empiric to do more evil than
good to the mass of his patients. — We are well aware that the
symptomatic treatment of the homeopathic doctrine is very different
from the one hitherto so termed, since it pretends always to rest
not only on one or more symptoms, but on their minute similarity
with the symptoms of the drug-sickness, and pays no regard to the
name of the disease. Hahnemann's general objections against the
nomenclature of diseases, in many parts of his works, are to some
extent correct, as no individual case of any disease will resemble
exactly the minute description of it, as given in any catalogue or
system of nosology ; but he is very wrong in asserting that in
this the great mistakes of allopathic medicine principally consist,
and his anxious warnings to his disciples (see Organon §75)
never to use the customary language of the older schools, in
regard to distinct names, but always to say, "a kind of dropsy, a
kind of typhus fever, &c." are exceedingly puerile and ridiculous.
The descriptions contained in nosological systems, are the abstracts
of many close observations, made by the profession for centuries,
and, if correct, are to be considered similar to the ideal of the artist,
which is likewise the abstract of many individualities, seldom or
never exactly occurring in one person. Both are very valuable,
although the physician in a special case, as well as the artist who
wishes to obtain a true likeness, would never gain the desired end,
without minutely referring to the individual case. It would be
impossible for any systematical nosologist to describe the genera,
species and the innumerable varieties of diseases, on account of
the multifarious combinations of the symptoms. The plan
hitherto followed by them was intended simply to teach this branch
of practical medicine systematically; their works aie only glossa-
ries of the profession, by which physicians can speak of its objects
in intelligible and brief terms. No judicious physician will consider
the case before him only with regard to the name given in his
nosological text-book, whether the description of it, there presented,
be similar to the case or not ; he will always recur to the principles
of physiology, general pathology and therapeutics, the only true
and safe resources of all rational treatment :* he will use the

* We candidly confess, that among thousands of patients entrusted to our care,
we have seldom been able to name a disease, distinctly corresponding to any nosology
or to its popular name, though patients and their relatives are frequently more anxious
about the name of the disease than about the cure, and the relatives are often belter
satisfied with that physician, whose patient dud, provided he had given to the disease
a name, than with hint, whose patient recovered, but who had not named thedise

93

shortest and most suitable terms, merely to avoid the tedious and
useless minute description, belonging to sonographies or to ac-
curate accounts of interesting and complicated rare cases. The
contempt of all nosological terminology by Hahnemann and his ad-
herents evidently does not promote medical knowledge in the
least; it checks the progress of the profession by increasing the dif-
ficulties of scientific discussion, and it makes, of course, no diffe-
rence, if a mistake be made in the diagnosis of an individual case,
whether a name may have been given to it or not. The great
evils which always arise from the abuse of nosological systems may
be regarded as additional proofs, how little advantage can be de-
rived from symptoms, and that the reliance upon the causes or
upon a judicious aetiology, derived from a minute anamnesis,
offer by far the surest aid to medical practice. It is also true, that
the inconveniencies mentioned, arising from the mere reliance on
symptoms, are not peculiar to the homoeopathic maxim, " similia
similibus curantur," but almost in the same degree also to the
opposite maxim, " contraria contrariis curantur," since both refer
only to the relation between symptoms and their appropriate me-
dicines, both avoid all close rational investigation into the causes
of the diseased state, and both neglect the truth, that in the nar-
row compass of our senses, one and the same cause, acting in
different diseases, may produce different symptoms, and one and
the same symptom may arise from different causes. If, therefore,

doctors are, therefore, from prudence, seldom at a loss to give a name. — Indeed, it
seems very remarkable to a physician, who has studied men during his long practical
career, how utterly ignorant laymen in general are in regard to medicine, although
most of them, who would not interfere with the business of the lowest mechanic,
profess to know minutely what belongs to the healing art : they will not be satisfied
unless they see signs and wonders elicited by the bold treatment of the doctor. Should
the doctor not prescribe large bleedings, powerful emetics, cathartics, leeches, epis-
pastics, blisters, and similar remedies, the effects of which are palpable, they would
question his talents more, even if the patient recovered, than they would if he died, after
every remedy which they knew had been proscribed. In what order the doctor was
pleased to employ the whole apparatus of his art, is of less or no consequence, al-
though none of them would be contented with the builder, who would apologise for
his ignorance, in putting at the top of the building what belongs to the foundation, and
vice versa, by pointing out among its ruins, all the integral parts of a durable edifice.
Thousands of human lives would be preserved annually, and many be spared the suf-
ferings arising from bad treatment, if the public would abstain from all interference
with an art, for which the life and assiduous study of many centuries would be too
short, and if, after becoming acquainted with the vast extent of the healing art, and
with the many requisites of its true and faithful servants, they would rather amply
provide for and insist upon a thoroughly classical and professional education and
upon rigorous public examinations of their physicians, before these are intrusted
with the lives and health of so many. Then also, but only then, the profession woald
be elevated to that dignity and enjoy that respect which it so justly deserves, and
then would it be no more necessary to combat such a superstitious doctrine as hdrcoeo-
pathia, because like all rude empiricism and quackery, it could not exist for one day.

94

the latter or the maxim termed, "antipathic," qt " enanthiopathic,"
by Hahnemann, is declared false by him, it follows from this
point of view, that the homoeopathic maxim is so likewise. Ab-
stracted from further objections, which we shall endeavour to ex-
plain on arriving at the third maxim of homoeopathia, the an-
tipathic maxim might easily be proved to be far more consistent
with the general laws of nature and the human intellect particu-
larly, although it is evident that, from its nature, its relative greater
correctness cannot be ascertained by the tests of experiments on
healthy persons. The medical literature of every century, since
the beginning of the healing art, abounds in cases in favour of
the maxim, contraria contrariis curantur; how few in compari-
son with these are the instances quoted by Hahnemann in favour
of his doctrine, from the same sources, which, even if his quotations
were correct, would not be in his favor, and much less now after
lie has altered and distorted them. Who, inclined to trust on such
important subjects, merely to the majority and validity of autho-
rities, would therefore hesitate for a moment to prefer the antipathic
maxim ? If Hahnemann was even guilty of being consistent, every
one would allow that he has imprudently furnished to his op-
posers the strongest weapons against himself, by quoting instances
of cures, from the oldest records of the profession down to the
present century : not only because he asserts that the true healing
art has not existed before him, (see Organon, preface) but also
because these cases prove at a glance, that not one v)as ever treated
in his maimer, if we only reflect on his and their doses of drugs,
may one or the other or both be considered,comparatively, immensely
large or small. Who, but an idiot, would consider it an argument,
that the power of the many billionth part of one grain must prove
immensely great, because a drachm of the same substance has some-
times shown some similar but much smaller effects, or vice versa?
It would appear, at least, much more prudent for him, to take no
notice of such records, which are otherwise so useless in his eyes,
and to let homoeopathia rest on its own intrinsic worth, if he did
not intend to influence the weak-minded by learned quotations.

Hahnemann's singular conceptions of the manner in which
homoeopathic drugs act, is so intimately connected with his
maxim about the doses of his simple drugs and their developed
virtues, that we should be more guilty of repetitions than we are
already, in consequence of his multiplied contradictions, if we did

95

not leave a part of this discussion also, until we have arived at
the third maxim of homoeopathia, which comprises all its maxims
together. We feel, however, obliged to add a few pertinent re-
marks about the maxim, similia similibus curantur. to vindicate
our assertion, that the maxim opposite to his, corresponds still more
to the laws of nature and to the human understanding. Hahne-
mann, justly opposed to all corpuscular action of drugs in
the cure of diseases, says, in his introduction to the second vo-
lume of his Materia Medica, on page 13, under the head of
" Spirit of the Homoeopathic Doctrine :" — " But it is evident, that
" medicines, acting in a heterogeneous or allopathic manner, with
" the intention to produce other symptoms in a healthy person,
" than those of the disease to be cured, cannot, according to the
'" nature of the subject, be either suitable or salutary, but must
" act in an oblique direction ; otherwise every disease would be
" cured quickly, safely, and durably, by any medicine ever so dif-
" ferent, which would form a direct contradiction (contradictionem
" in adjecto), because every drug possesses an action different from
" all others, and every disease generates, by the eternal laws of
" nature, a distemper deviating from other similar ones, and this
" would involve the impossibility of a good success, since every
" change can only be produced by its appropriate cause, and not
" per quamlibet causam. And thus it is also confirmed by daily
" experience, that the vulgar medical practice of prescribing
" in diseases motle) r recipes of unknown medicines, produces se-
" veral effects, but, least of all, cure." — Let him, who can, under-
stand this gallimatia ; although faithfully translated, we confess
we cannot ! — The only sound inference which may be drawn
from this explanation, as well as from the above mentioned mode.
in which we are told that the homoeopathic drug extinguishes
the symptoms of the disease, and by this the latter itself, is, that
Hahnemann considering in other places his virtues developed from
drugs as acting like infinite beings, spirits, &c, alludes here to the
grossest mechanical notions. It is impossible to comprehend why,
if his propositions were not correct, it must follow that a drug
" must act in an oblique manner," and why otherwise " every
" disease would be quickly, safely and durably cured?" It would
appear to follow therefrom, that he admits, contrary to his whole
doctrine, that two directions are left for the cure of all diseases,
viz., one from before, and another from behind. In following

96

this ridiculous explanations of Hahnemann, we should think it
evident that as any mechanical power, which counteracts another,
can act neither in a direction parallel to the first, nor in the same
direction behind it, but either in an opposite or in an oblique di-
rection, these last will check the original power according to their
relative degrees; the oblique, however, according to the power
resulting from the two originally counteracting powers, in conse-
quence of the known physical law of the diagonal direction in
the parallellograrn of two forces.

Hahnemann extending his reform, or rather his creation of the
genuine healing art most graciously, not only to the whole class of
diseases called bodily, but also to those called mental, and alluding
to the latter in many places of his works says, (see Materia Medica,
Vol. II., page 23,) " .... in the same manner the melancholy
" girl would, in her solitude, afterwards be sunk in still deeper
" affliction, about the death of her friend, if she should have been
" enlivened for a few hours, only palliatively, by a gay party,
"because this influence was only contrary, enantiopdthic." Ac-
cording to this old philosopher, " who boldly penetrates still deeper
" in the mysteries of nature," (see Dr. Hering, 1. c. p. 13,) we have
to look also for a great reform in the treatment of all mental affec-
tions, and consistent with his wise inference just quoted and
selected from similar ones, it would not for instance, be advisable to
console a sorrowful and deeply afflicted lady, who had just suddenly
lost her beloved husband, by telling her the glad tidings that her
dear and only son, whom she had long considered as dead, had
happily arrived. No ! God forbid ! to risk such an allopathic or
rather antipathic mode which might kill her, as such remedies
always do ; better to invent, and to tell her some additional great
misfortune ; that will unquestionably console her more and dispel
all danger of a mental derangement; it will make her feel quite
happy and cheerful, because it is a homa?opathicremedy 3 a simile,
" O! sancte Apollo qui umbilicum terrarum obtines !"

In order to do summary justice to the homoeopathic maxim,
similia similibus curantur, and if possible to sustain its correctness,
we shall advocate it for a few moments in the sense of its author,
and admit that it may accord with the law of nature, that of
causes and their effects, which are so intimately connected, that one
cannot change without a- simultaneous change of the other, and
that therefore as the effects constitute the symptoms, an implicit

07

■ liaticc on these symptoms is not only useful, but quite suflicieUb
for medical treatment. It would be reasonable to suppose that the'
least changes of the causes must naturally produce corresponding
changes of their effects. Hahnemann in support of this proposi-
tion of his doctrine, concerning the great value of symptoms in
general, could have cited a great many natural phenomena, which
confirm the abstract correctness of this proposition. From different
instances of that kind, we may select from natural philosophy a mo-
dern interesting one, viz. the polarization of light, which has been
so much improved by the ingenious and learned Brewster. It led
to the presumption that there might still exist a difference, how-
ever small, in the proportion of the constituent parts of some sub-
stances, hitherto considered chemically alike ; and indeed minute
chemical analyses, instituted on account of the difference in the
polarization of light, by these substances have confirmed it. But if
we consider the immense multitude of organs and parts of the
human body, each of which may present a symptom to the close
observer, independent even of the mental functions, which we
never shall be able to refer with any probability to single organs and
parts; if we reflect on the immense number of symptoms which
naturally arise by their various combinations, as depending on the
primary and sympathetical affections of all these systems, organs
and parts; could we discern minutely with our imperfect senses
one single case in praxi? We answer, no; even if the age of
Methusaleh were granted to the physician and his patient. The
combined actions of all the parts of the living body, caused by the
constant influence of external agents, both of which are continually
varying, would preclude still more the correctness of all conclusions
for the next moment, as the appearance of the disease may in all
probability then be again totally altered from what it was a few
moments before. No physician can isolate bis patient and perform
experiments upon him, as he would do if investigating a topic
of natural philosophy, &c. The most ample experiments of this
kind repeatedly instituted by the philosopher with the greatest care
and accuracy, and aided by the numerous modern improvements in
philosophical instruments, are frequently insufficient to protect him
against errors and mistakes ; how much less then can the physician
who has to contend with so many and so great obstacles, rely with cer-
tainty on his experiments at the bedside of his patient, without such
niiple means at his disposal l With all the hare-brajned nonsense

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98

of Hahnemann, asserting that homoeopathic drugs alone act abso-
lutely and unconditionally, do not common sense and experi-
ence claim also for the immense multitude of agents in all sur-
rounding nature, at least a little more to excite the same coun-
ter-and-after-actions which he claims for his infinite atoms'? Are
all men, independent of the differences in their features, stature,
&c, formed so much alike, that we can rely with any certainty
upon symptoms ? Is there not something peculiar in the construc-
tion of the different organs, in their situation, &c, which though
perhaps of no great influence during health, may produce in the
diseased state, symptoms quite different from those established by
the homoeopathic symptomatology, if we even could admit its
correctness ? And as we never see two men with exactly the same
features, and much less two whose lives are attended with similar
incidents, may we not also, a priori, expect the same disease in
one person to present very different symptoms from those in another;
and that particularly in chronic diseases, many symptoms termed,
from their predominance, pathognomonical, are often observed only
where the local affection is so severe, that the cure is frequently
almost beyond the control of the art? How different and delusive
are the symptoms in the different organic and functional diseases
of the heart, as stated by many most distinguished and trustworthy
modern authors ! Two great physicians, Burns and Abernethy,
have observed in post mortem examinations the'greatest abnormal
formations in the heart, the one however mostly without the least,
the other almost always with prominent, symptoms during life.
Percussion ©f the chest, which was mentioned by Hippocrates, was
again introduced and much improved for practical purposes about
seventy years since, by Auenbrugger, a German, and was carried
to great perfection, by combining immediate with mediate auscul-
tation, by the great French physician, Laennec, and many of
his distinguished countrymen, for the minute diagnosis of the
different deformities and other morbid affections of the heart, the
lungs and other parts. How much have the many symptoms
elicited by all these valuable experiments, contributed to point out
with certainty the real state of the body during life, or to improve
the treatment of the corresponding diseases ? Very little to the
one and nothing to the other.*

* Notwithstanding these great improvements in the diagnosis of diseases of the
ohest, the numher of deaths by pulmonary consumption increases in all the large

99

Moreover, it would alone require the close study of many years
^ very sharp hearing, and an uncommonly good memory, in order
to distinguish correctly, by the stethoscope, plessimeter, and similar
modern implements, the different sounds of pectoriloquy, aegopho-
ny, garguoillement, etc. in the various diseases of the chest; and
when, as is generally the case, two or more of these sounds are
combined together, one shade of a sound might prevent the per-
ception of the other, and by rendering the experiment illusive,
leave the treatment as uncertain as it has been heretofore : nay,
perhaps still more so, since, as we have sometimes witnessed, phy-
sicians, prejudiced by such a scrutiny, have considered cases as ab-
solutely hopeless, which have afterwards been cured. Frequently
these highly valuable modes of inquiry contribute only to the char-
latanism of doctors, who, anxious to show by them that they are
not behind modern discoveries, run about with their stethoscope,
plessimeter, etc. under their arm, and apply them with a grave
face, as if they could hear the grass grow by them ; and then pro-
nounce a fatal prognosis, with such an unconditional certainty and
selfconfidence, as if they possessed the very means of weighing
minutely the living powers of nature in their remotest recesses;
and if the relatives of the patient trust their prophesy and follow
their advice to use nothing but trifling domestic medicines and to
despair, it will be also fulfilled.

How frequently is the practitioner misled by symptoms, consi-
dered as pathognomonical, in diseases of the abdomen; and meets,
in post mortem examinations, with defects and deformities never
anticipated during life.* The same is the case with the many dis-
eases of the brain, an organ which our sensual age, so poor in ele-
vated conceptions of true philosophy and poetry, and so rich in all

cities of Europe and America to an alarming extent. Thus, in New York, according
to the public reports, the number of such cases has increased, within four years, from
eighteen to upwards of thirty-six weekly; an increase of a hundred per cent.; whereas
within the same period, the population has increased, at the most, only ten per cent.
We predict that the ratio will increase still more, as all chronic diseases do, which
depend on a syphilitic, scrophulons. tubercular, &c. infection, such as cancer, dothi
enteritis, abdominal consumption, &c. Hundreds whose lives could have been saved,
will fall victims to these diseases, and particularly to pulmonary consumption, if the
faults in the physical and psychical education, the carelessness of the public and of the
profession, in regard to its prevention and treatment, are not remedied; but above all,
if the murderous mode of diffusing the spurious and contaminated cow-pox should
continue.

* "Subtilitas naturre subtilitatem sensus et intellectus multis partibus superat."
(F. Bacon's Organon.) In post mortem examinations we have found both lungs very
much diseased, in cases which presented no symptoms of pulmonary affection during
life, and have read of instances where both kidneys were totally destroyed and chang-
ed into large bladders, filled also with sharp-angled calculi, and yet the urine was
neither considerably suppressed nor much changed in character. (See Lebkucchner's
Report, in Med. Correspondcnz Bl. d. Wuertemb. Aerztl. Vereins, 1834, No. 7.)

100

the common-place results of a Hal and prosaic materialism, trie*
minutely to connect with the functions of the human mind and its
various morbid affections ! Would those who, in our time, always
merely rely on the palpable, ever have expected, from the symp-
toms obvious in lunatics, that, in some of them, no other deviation
from the healthy state has been found, but a more or less perpen-
dicular direction of the transverse colon ; a part, as it appears, so
little connected with the functions of the human brain. This re-
mark was first made upwards of seventy years ago, by Pyl, a dis-
tinguished German author on legal medicine, and has recently been
confirmed by the celebrated Esqairol. Many large and interesting
volumes have been written, for almost half a century pa3t, on the
symptoms of the different states of the brain after external violence,
in order to ascertain where trepanning is or is not indispensably
required ; and yet nearly the same uncertainty prevails with re-
gard to the most contradictory statements of symptoms. We ob-
serve almost daily instances recorded in surgical periodicals, where
trepanning proved fatal, after having been instituted according to
the modern advice, never to neglect it in cases the least doubtful,
whether the skull is much broken, depressed, etc., or not, and we
know cases of depression, fractures,&c, much more desperate, which
were cured without any surgical aid, merely by a long continued,
rigorous antiphlogistic treatment.

If such obscurities in respect to symptoms still exist in regard
to the principal organs of the human body, after all the minute
observations, at the bedside as well as in post mortem examina-
tions, how much less can we rely on symptoms relating to parts of
less importance or of less intimate connection with the whole body;
how much less can we rely on those symptoms which rest mostly
upon feelings so exceedingly illusive, and still less if they are founded
upon novel observations, avowedly made for by far too short a time
for any positive result in such subjects, and reported by a man so
little trustworthy as Hahnemann has proved himself to be? Do
we further not sometimes observe very remarkable deviations in
nations almost adjacent to each other, which although of no material
importance for rational medicine, would however be important in
regard to the strictness seemingly required by the homoeopathic
symptomatology ? Thus, Rosenmueller has found by his many
dissections, in the commencement of the revolutionary war between
France and the Allied Powers, that many individuals of the
\westcrn and southern nations of Europe, possess two or more smafl

additional spleens, whereas the northern and eastern nations ha
but one. So is it also well-known, that the former are more affected
by one kind of tape- worm, (Taenia lata, Brems.) the northern and
eastern by another (Tania cucurbitina.) If it be so indispensable for
the never failing homoeopathic treatment, {see Organon from §§ 77
to 92.) and Dr. Hering (p. 22, 1. c.) to know minutely the external
place of the complaint, whether the symptoms appear on the right
or left limb, it would seem of much greater importance to know
the abnormal situation and formation of one or more important
organs, which as above stated, are frequently observed in post
mortem examinations only, although no symptoms whatever ex-
isted previously during life. According to the great worth claimed
by homoeopathists for their minute symptomatology, how could
they consistently answer for their treatment, if a patient dies and
presents to them in a post mortem examination, as many instances
are on record, the total defect or a surplus of parts on which de-
pended a considerable portion of their symptoms? But with all their
great respect for " trifles and unheard of niceties," the proceedings
of the homoeopathists, even with regard to symptoms, are so de-
fective and strange that, excepting the immense number of sin-
gular feelings, it appears almost as if the human body were in
their eyes hollow like a polypus or a volvox globator, offering only
a surface to the superficial observer. We have at least been unable,
in the vast multitude of their symptoms, which often amount to
upwards of a thousand for one drug, to discover proper remarks of
the necessity of closely investigating the functions of the res-
piratory, digestive and other highly important organs by minutely
examining their morbid excrementitious matters, the expecto-
rated mucus or pus, the urine, (fee, though these signs are ex-
tremely important in the diagnosis of many diseases : thus a
knowledge of the chemical condition of the urine is indispensable,
in order to ascertain in lithiasis, whether phosphate of lime, uric
acid, or what other matter predominates, so as not to increase the
disease from ignorance, instead of alleviating it. Are not these data,
at least, as valuable as what Dr. Hering thinks important mi-
nutely to examine " a small wart of long standing upon the right
" cheek," a " weakness of the right ankle," or a " proneness of the
" same to frequent sprains," (see 1. c. p. 22), &c., or as Hahne-
mann's large catalogue of feelings, many of which are newly
created by him only to satisfy his and his disciples' most extrava

102

gant fancy, and which are even to the German often so strange
that scarcely any one can form a clear conception of them ? The
homocopathical symptomatology, according to its many and great
requisites, must be, of course, entirely inapplicable, when the pa-
tient has only one foot or arm, and those persons crippled in
birth or by accident, are also so unfortunate, as to be excluded,
when sick, from all the " great blessings" of this " new art of
" healing," since hitherto no experiments with drugs have been
instituted with such persons. The high value which homceopa-
thists ascribe to the most subtle shades of symptoms, the names
of which require the minutest acquaintance with the German
language, (some of Hahnemann's expressions are foreign to this
and to every language,) must render the large collection of drug-
and disease-symptoms comprehensible only by Germans, who
have studied, or rather learned by heart homoeopathia for years.
Thus the ridiculous opinion, that a physician can be skilful only
in his own country, and must be considered in a foreign land in-
ferior to a native, may he be ever so superior in professional edu-
cation, talent, experience, &c, is indirectly advocated by homoeopa-
thia ; though this opinion is excusable only in a man destitute of
general scientific education, however distinguished he might be as
an editor, poet, &c. For a man of a good general education should
be sufficiently acquainted with the encyclopaedical abstract of all sci-
ences, so as to know also what materially belongs to the medical
profession; he should know even by his common sense, that at least
anatomy, physiology, pathology, &c, must be less national than
other sciences, if he thinks them not altogether the same over the
whole globe. The differences of climate, the epidemic and endemic
diseases &c. of a foreign country, must be sufficiently known to every
well educated physician, so that he can adapt the rational prin-
ciples of the profession to any case with the same facility in a fo-
reign land as in his native country. Indeed ! this opinion, which
we have frequently heard expressed by men of high standing in
different countries, must appear as foolish, as if any body were to
assert that only an American can describe minutely the geogra-
phical, geological, and all similar conditions of his country, because,
besides this singular birth-right, he has travelled in American steam-
boats, rail-road-cars, &c, and vice versa, that an able American
astronomer or geologist could not claim any minute knowledge of
a foreign distant country, because he was not born there, and did

103

nol live there from his infancy. Humphrey Davy says very cot
rectly, in one of his speeches, " science, like that nature to which
" it helongs, is neither limited by time nor space ; it belongs to the
" world, and is of no country and of no age." But homceopathists
may justly be considered as ' ; glebes adscripti," not only on ac-
count of the difficulties mentioned, but on account of the great
differences of climate, customs, and particularly the abuse of substan-
ces, " classed by him (Hahnemann) among the important remedial
" substances ;" all of which must necessarily lead the practice of
German homceopathists, in foreign countries, to results very dif-
ferent from the experiments with drugs instituted at Leipzig and
Coethen ; and if they wished to be in any manner consistent,
they should commence a new series of experiments with drugs on
healthy persons, as accurate as those of their master, before they
venture to practise in any foreign country with safety. How, for
instance, can they conscientiously prescribe the virtue developed
from an atom of opium for Turks, and other nations who daily
use very large allopathic doses of it? How can they administer to
the inhabitants of the Philippine islands, and other tropical coun-
tries, who are surrounded with forests of cloves, cassia, pepper,
and so many other plants, constantly impregnating the atmos-
phere with the largest allopathic doses of substances, classed by
them amongst the most important remedial agents ? What effect
can be well expected if a native of these regions should smell in
a severe malady on " a sugar-pellet not larger than a hemp-seed,"
and moistened with an infinite part of a grain of such an " im-
" portant remedial substance," of which he has inhaled large
quantities, at least thirty times every minute, during, perhaps, up-
wards of sixty years ? Homoeopathists, faithful to Hahnemann's
cunning advice, (see Chron. Dis. Vol. I. p. 200), to avoid under-
taking the treatment of patients, who have been previously
marred by an allopathist, must consistently renounce all practice,
where " the miserable, clumsy, and automatically acting nature,"
has been the murderous allopathist. Unfortunate nations ! In re-
turn for the great and extensive blessings which nature has hitherto
bestowed upon the inhabitants of the tropics, they are at present vi-
sited by twosevere adversities; their valuable property will henceforth
be entirely worthless, since in future, instead of many Indiamen, an-
nually arriving, with their valuable cargoes of drugs and spices, the
smallest vessel once very century will be fully sufficient to provide

all Europe and America with the requisite quantity of these ditfgl
and "important remedial substances," and in addition, these un-
fortunate people are unqualified for all the benefits of " the great
" discovery, which with blessings on its wings, reached to every
" quarter of the earth."* The best advice which we can give them-
from true commiseration is, to join with the many ruined drug-
gists, apothecaries and obstinate allopathists of all other sections of
the globe, and to migrate to " Egypt the land of monsters," ot-
to the " sanguinary gold-coast," in order to partake at least there of
the great blessings of homoeopathia, if they are willing to believe
the cheerful reports of the respected author of the "Concise View,"
on page 18.

The great veneration paid by all the homoeopathists to their'
" illustrious" master, may be pardonable, particularly when they
consider themselves the blessed apostles of him, with whom the
healing art has "dawned" and has continued "brilliantly" to
shine, like summer's brightest mid-day. Let them continue to say
to the American people, "no error is possible," "injury cannot
" indeed result from a false selection. 1 ' Let them tell also that the
very existence of the human understanding has begun with
Samuel Hahnemann, and that since his discovery all premature
death by disease, would have ceased to afflict man, if the allopa-
thic murderers were less obstinate. How many allowances have
mankind been forced to make to infatuated fanatics in every cen-
tury ! But after disparaging all other medicine, all learning and
experience, let them not wantonly destroy also the last remnant of

* To prove that our sympathy for those unfortunate nations is not visionary, we will
state, that on reproaching homceopathists for their failures in different cases, contra-
dicting their hold assertions to cure all diseases so easily, safely and quickly, some of
them answered for their defence: that in large, and especially in commercial cities, their
treatment sometimes fails, on account of the many "remedial influences,' 1 '' diffused in
the atmosphere. One of the principal homoeopathic remedies, the thorn apple, (Da-
tura stramonium, L.) will consequently be quite ineffectual in cities, like New York
and Philadelphia, where the surrounding country abounds with that exceedingly poison-
ous plant. We always considered it very wrong that this and similar poisonous plants
should be suffered to grow in abundance near dwellings, as they may frequently be
very injurious, particularly to children. But now we have still greater reason to call
the attention of the civil authorities to this nuisance, in order not to deprive
themselves and their fellow-citizens of the great benefits of homoeopathia. The bad
influences of other remedial agents, such as coffee, saffron, capsicum, imported from
abroad, tobacco and even parsley, (vid 2C, 1. c.) — this plant hitherto considered so inno-
cent and wholesome — will cease spontaneously, as soon as this newly discovered law
of nature shall be acknowledged as indispensable to health, and " the domestic felicity of
growing thousands here as wi 11 as in Germany," (see Concise View, page 29.) Why
are not England, France, and the many other countries also included in this prophecy
of Dr. Herragl Arc they not also christians ' or by what have they made themsel
unworthy of the blessings of " the great truth '."

105

the merits of the deserving. professional men who have existed and
still exist, by such barefaced falsehood and bold ignorance, as we
read in the following remarks, made by the author of the "Concise
View," in the idiom of his party, (on page 22, of his C. V.) " Hah-
" nemann was the first physician who recognized it as indispens-
able in any disease, to regard man as a whole." Does the learned
Dr. Hering not know, that Empedocles who lived long before Hip-
pocrates, about 24 centuries ago, has considered man as a whole,
in his work " on the philosophy of nature," where he states that
love combines the dissimilar and hatred the similar parts of the four
elements, which are contained in the whole body; which remark
is attended to by Aristotle, who himself had such clear conceptions
of man as a w T hole, that on a nearer comparative analysis of their
respective conceptions, the author of homceopathia would rather
lose than gain. Does he not know that Hippocrates by his terms :
<putfig, Gsibv, Evo^ov, proved the same; that also Aretseus, Galen, Hel-
mont, Ernestus Stahl, Albertus Haller, like all other real great
reformers of medicine, have considered man as a whole, under the
different expressions of psyche, archaeus, soul, vital povver, sen-
sibility, irritability, &c* No medical doctrine has ever been so

* We would recommend to Dr. Hering and his homoeopathic brethren the study of
the history of medicine, particularly the learned and ingenious work of our respected
friend, Professor Hecker of Berlin, whose " Geschichte der Heilkunde, nach Quellen
learbeitet, in two volumes, Berlin, 1822 and 1829," is more pragmatical and concise
than the celebrated work of Professor Curt Sprengel. They would think then with
more modesty of themselves, with more respect of the talents and exertions of really
great men, and would also gain some useful instruction from the study now considered
by them as " learned lumber." Lauth in his interesting work, " De l'esprit de l'in-
"struction publique, Strasbourg, 1816," says very correctly on page 142, "Vkistoirc
" d'unes cience contient Vhistoire des crreurs de Vesprit humain; les connaitre e'est
" posseder les moyens de les eviler, tandis que, par leur ignorance, chaque homme est
" expose d y retomuer." — The well educated physician considers not only man, but
also the plan of treatment of every case, as a whole, which therefore in most cases
is best executed by one ; hence, he is reluctant to yield to one of the most erroneous
prejudices of the pnblic in regardto medical consultations. Laymen being generally
ignorant of the philosophical spirit of rational medicine, and of the higher mental re-
quisites of a judicious treatment, consider it as depending only upon the acuteness of
the external senses and a faithful memory; and hence that six eyea are naturally able
to see three times as much as two, and that three doctors can remembera symptom and
a useful remedy three times as well as one. These ideas may be correct in regard to
the homoeopathists, whose whole talents consist in remembering many thousand symp-
toms, and who by the aid of a brother homoeopathist have less need of going home
to consult their horn-books, before they prescribe their atoms ; as they generally do,
according to Hahnemann's direction. But in regard to rational medicine this preju-
dice is of great injury, for the following reasons : the conscientious physician, never
prepossessed by his own learning and talent, will also feel bound from honesty towards
his colleagues, who are charged to act with him harmoniously, not to alter his treat-
ment without their consent. In urgent cases therefore, many consultations might be
required daily, which cannot be attended by physicians who are engaged in but a
moderate practice, and the mosc auspicious moments to relieve or to save the patient,
by an instantaneous alteration of the plan of treatment adopted before might easily be

14

106

narrow in its conceptions, so destitute of all reasonable conjectures,
and has therefore less considered man as a whole than homoeopa-
thia, in regarding the superficial symptoms and delusive feelings of
the patient as the only true leading thread in the dark pathway of
medical practice ; excluding all higher mental faculties, all reason-
ing about the immense and constant influence of the vast multitude
of the surrounding physical and mental agents; rejecting all
reference to any cause whatever, &c. It is true, that the history
of medicine presents, from its beginning, a motley list of the most
imaginary and absurd conceptions about the causes of diseases,
and this will continue to be so, more or less, because probably it was
and will ever remain impossible for any mortal being to know
exactly what life really is, and in what it essentially consists ; all
conjectures of the proximate causes of the different diseased states,
have been and always will remain hypothetical. " Latent ista om-
nia crassis occultata et circumfusa tenebris; ut nulla acies humani
ingenii tanta sit, quae penetrare in coelum, terrain intrare possit. —

for ever lost. This will be the case, even where the physicians agree in their views
and in their professional creed, as is probably not the case with two out of a hundred.
If the professional views of two or more consulting physicians differ, the situation of
the patient is much worse, as the treatment then is generally the result of a compro-
mise of two or more mostly diametrically opposite opinions, combined from mutual
courtesy or from prudence, neither of them being willing to be responsible for the
result of his plan, when seriously opposed by the other. The public, unaware of these
great inconveniences, will from bad customs, show or fashion, insist in proportion to
their wealth, upon the consultations of more or less physicians, and will therefore fre-
quently see members of their families dead, or otherwise injured, who if they were
poor and forced to feel satisfied with the advice of only one good physician, would
have been saved. The more ingenious the proposed two plans of treatment, the less-
probability is there of success, provided both be followed, or a third mode be formed
from them. Two empirics, therefore, will agree together better than two rational
physicians of different schools and practical views.— Every work depending upon the
higher functions of the human intellect, upon conjectural principles, and upon a rational
plan to be immediately changed according to circumstances which happen, should
always be considered best performed by one ; the probability of success in medical
treatment may justly be considered as inverse to the number of consulting physicians,
and the true benefit derived by the patient from medical attendance is generally equal
to the fraction of one divided by the number of consulting physicians. Even the
errors of a physician are observed and remedied by himself better than by another, and
many successful modes of treatment are frustrated by the frequent change of physi-
cians. This remark is intimately connected with a no less important inconsistency,
likewise arising from want of sound reflection on the part of the public generally, in re-
regard to medicine. Many persons have but slight confidence in the healing art, and
consider it useless to consult a physician in the beginning of a disease, but they are
anxious for his assistance when they become more seriously affected. We should think
that if the confidence in the healing art is but small, it should consistently decrease in
proportion with the difficulties to be removed, so that it must appear more advisable to
call medical assistance in the beginnning of a disease, when all the morbid processes
are but trifling, and easily removed, than at a later time, when by long duration and
perhaps wrong measures, the first cause and its simple effects have been changed into
a series of more or less complicated and aggravated morbid processes. A child may-
change the course of the largest river at its source, but no human power can alter its
current at a considerable distance.

107

(Cic. acad. qucesl.) But this does not prevent us from comparing
the different manifestations and conditions of man's life with those
of other living organized bodies, Avhich we can observe more mi-
nutely, and submit to our experiments ; nor from considering the
phenomena and laws of universal nature, and their influence on the
body in its different states, from which collectively we may conclude
upon the state of things in diseases and upon the best means of
remedying them in a manner, which, though not satisfactory to
our unattainable ideal of certainty and perfection, yet fills our
hearts with gratitude to a merciful Providence. But being unable to
attain a consummate insight into the causes, shall we therefore desist
from thankfully and rationally using all that the infinite wisdom
and mercy of our Creator has granted to our intellect, and offered
to our investigation ? Thus, ought the natural philosopher to re-
nounce his belief in a power of gravity, and observe only its pheno-
mena, without establishing the said general principle and its
laws, because he cannot and will never see or grasp the power
itself? Supposing even that it will soon be found, to depend onty
upon a modification of the universal electro-chemical or magnetical
agent, will not the very nature of this power simply change the
form of the great mystery, and give rise to many new hypotheses,
however much the principle may be simplified ? Indeed it is ex-
tremely inconsistent and absurd that, while on one side homceo-
pathists are more credulous and superstitious than ever a class of
men have been, and affect to be so pious and faithful as to consider
the investigation of the causes of natural phenomena a heavy sin ;
they are on the other side such strict sceptics, as almost to require
laying down before them visibly and palpably, the matter of gravity
itself, if it should exist, or any similar agency of nature, in the same
manner as they can see and grasp " a small wart of long standing
upon the right cheek," and are such infidels as to think their wis-
dom paramount to the vital powers, and to regard these always as
injurious in diseases, if they do not assist them! We may justly
ask Dr. Hering and his brethren: who considers man most as a
whole, he who is contented simply to observe and write down the
symptoms which are gained from true statements, or which are
elicited from such defective experiments as we have mentioned,
without any minute ratiocination or any higher intellectual exer-
tion; or he, who not content with what is only obvious to his senses,
is anxious to inquire minutely into the probable causes and their

108

connection with the accurately observed various effects, in order to
establish general principles, which are applicable to many cases,
without any reference to but seldomly similar, and mostly illusive
symptoms? Who values man practically more as a whole, the
homoeopath ist, who according to his doctrine, believing that the
developed virtues of drug-atoms are only to be applied with success
through the mouth or the nose, and therefore rejects the use of all
external remedies ; or the rational physician, who considers every
point of the living body to be endowed with a proportionate and
modified part of the same power, which animates and moves the
whole, so that any appropriate influence upon the smallest point,
will be distributed over all the systems, organs and parts of the
living individual ; and who believes on that account, that a great
many diseases may be radically cured only by the use of external
remedies, or by psychical directions? Homceopathia with its maxim,
similia similibus curantur, would therefore justly be the last of all
medical doctrines which could pretend with propriety to consider
man as a whole, even if all experiments should fully confirm the
correctness of the said maxim, much less so however, with its great
deficiencies, delusions, contradictions, inconsistencies and absur-
dities.

Admitting that Hahnemann has in good faith adopted his doc-
trine, still it appears that he was misled by many observations
which he claims to have discovered, but which were observed long
before his time : viz. that powerful drugs, applied in a stronger
dose or for a longer time than is necessary for removing the dis-
ease, produce symptoms which apparently belong to the subdued
disease itself, but which are caused mostly by the surplus of the
given drug ; or in cases where the drug was not required, and where
the original disease nevertheless disappeared, upon the improper
selection of the drug. It was, for instance, known long before
Hahnemann's first publication of his doctrine, and it was explicitly
remarked by all eminent authors, that mercury, if used without
sufficient reason, or if continued too long and in too large doses
for syphilitic diseases, frequently produces symptoms resembling
those of syphilis, and which do not subside, until the use of mer-
cury is suspended and an opposite treatment adopted. But it
would certainly be very poor diagnosis, if a physician should
consider mercurial and syphilitic ulcers as identical ; they are
similar to each other, but not alike, as is also proved by the sue-

100

cessful mode of treatment generally followed by all judicious prac-
titioners : hence the former were termed also, long before Hahne-
mann's doctrine, " mercurial ulcers", (Mercurial-Geshwuere) and
the complex of all the symptoms produced by misapplied mercury
was called "mercurial disease" (Mercurial-Krankheit;) this is, mu-
tatis mutandis, quite the same as the term drug-sickness used by
Hahnemann, and considered by his infatuated followers to be as
gigantic a discovery as if he had found the quadrature of the circle.
The same may be said of other remedies; if applied in too large
doses, they will injure always in a direct proportion to their efficacy,
to their dose, to the age, the constitution, the habit, the idiosyn-
crasy of the patient, etc. etc. They could not injure otherwise than
by producing a diseased state, manifested by some symptoms. But
impartial observation will show, that the drug given in excess,
will rarely produce a state, which originated directly from the spe-
cific properties of the given drug, expressed by Hahnemann as
drug-sickness ( Arzney-Krankheit ;) it will only cause a bad effect
in general, depending upon the just named individual conditions,
and observable either by another disease totally different from the
former, or by one combined with a higher or lower degree of the
old disease, or also by a more protracted convalescence. Not
only the drug, but any thing else which the sick person has im-
properly taken may have these effects. Thus, for instance, of
three apoplectics, one has eaten too much salted hering, and be-
comes violently delirious, another has indulged too much in water
melons, and gets cholera, and the third was intemperate with
whiskey, and is affected with blood-spitting ; nobody perhaps but
an homoeopathist, would be so foolish as to term the first case her-
ring-sickness ; the second, water-melon-sickness, and the third
whiskey-sickness, and no one but a homoeopathist, would recom-
mend to the first a microscopic slice of a herring; to the second,
that of a water-melon, and to the third, the virtue developed from
whiskey. — Hahnemann's observations therefore in support of the
homoeopathic maxim before us, do not depend upon the cor-
rectness of that maxim, but upon the natural consequences of all
agents which are used in excess — omne nimium vertitur in con-
trarium. A relatively small quantity of wine, opium, etc. for in-
stance, exhilarates, a larger one makes morose and drowsy ; to
quote a common-place occurrence, a carpenter who intends to fas-

1 10

ten a board, loosens it again by using too many nails and striking
too much. Many similar incidents often happen in sickness, and
may be explained by considering the healthy state as a parallelism
of two straight lines, and the diseased state as a divergence of the
same, which increasing at every moment of its duration, increases
also the difficulties in re-establishing the parallelism or health ;
but it is obvious, that a power acting with more force than is re-
quired merely to re-establish the parallelism, will produce a simi-
lar and still larger divergence on the other side, and thus prove
more injurious than beneficial, though it did not depend upon the
wrong quality but upon the disproportionate quantity of 'the force
applied. — Hahnemann is not aware that he himself nullifies his
maxim of homceopathia, by very judiciously saying on the third
page of his Organon : — " According to common sense the cause of
any thing can never be the thing itself." We would only add to this
negative proposition, which affects the old and long unsettled dis-
pute about the identity of the proximate cause of a disease with the
latter itself — the cause of any effect will much less destroy the
effect of a dissimilar and even not of a similar cause. Common
sense must adopt equal causes for equal effects; the same reasoning
is applicable to two or more effects, really similar to each other in
most of their single parts and vice versa. — To explain this more
clearly, let us suppose the drug, d, to be the cause, c, of a certain
number of drug-symptoms, s, in healthy persons, and let u call X
the unknown cause of the symptoms, S, of the natural disease,
called D. If we now meet with these similar symptoms, or S, in
a natural disease, D, it would be contrary to all common senseto
conjecture that d must destroy S, because it has produced s,
which is similar to S ; any one would more reasonably think, that
it must sooner increase S and D belonging to it, because in all
probability if s is quite similar to S, then the unknown cause X
of S and its D, must be also similar to c of s; and as c is said to
destroy absolutely S and its D, it destroys what its similar X always
generates, which is absurd. It is here immaterial whether X,
the unknown cause and S or D, its effect (proximate cause and
disease,) are the same or not; the just reproach of Hahnemann,
and of some of his reflecting disciples, that we know nothing cer-
tain about the proximate causes of diseases, does not the least
affect our conclusions, since by adopting X, we admit that we do

Ill

not know exactly the cause, but only a cause. If he on his part,
does admit no cause X, then he adopts an effect which has no cause;
if he admits one, then he admits what we have just proved to be
absurd. — We see by this dilemma, that even in regard to the simi-
larity of symptoms, the homoeopathic doctrine is merely seemingly
correct. — True, Hahnemann says, (Org.: § 7.) " The physician,
"in his treatment, is aided by data which most probably were the
"cause of the acute disease, and by the most prominent incidents
"of the whole bistory of the chronic disease, in order to ascertain
" its fundamental cause,'''' he. But who would believe that this his
judicious advice, expressed by him moreover in italics, is retracted
by him in the same work, and on the same page, where he says,
" Is not that which is recognisable by our senses, in the symp-
" toms of diseases, the same with that which is internally existing
" and not recognisable in itself? Is not the latter the side unat-
" tainable and unrecognisable by us; but the former that side of
" the same disease, which is evidently and positively recognisable
" by our sound senses, and given to us by nature as the principal
" object of cure ? Who can prove the contrary ? Is it not there-
" fore foolish to make the invisible, internal state of any disease,
" the state termed prima causa morbi, the object of cure, but to
" reject, and haughtily to contemn, the sensibly and clearly ob-
" servable side of the same disease, the symptoms which chiefly
" speak to us as objects of treatment ?"

And again, on § J 2 of the same work, he says, "Whereas,
" therefore, the removal of all the recognisable symptoms and in-
" cidenls of the disease removes also these changes, on which the
"latter is founded — of course, therefore, the totality of the dis-
u ease — it follows, that it is the duty of the physician only to re-
" move the symptoms, in order to erase and to destroy, at the
" same time, the internal changes ; of course, therefore, the total-
" ity of the disease, the disease itself."

We leave it to the acuteness of the impartial critic to select any
sense from this motley phraseology : for instance, how it is pos-
sible to reconcile with common sense, that the symptoms of a disease
and the latter itself, are absolutely the same, and nevertheless not
the same ; we should think if both are the same, both must be also
recognisable, or unrecognisable, he. If the critic succeeds, after
his great exertion, he will observe the grossest contradictions in

112

these quotations. — In regard to the maxim, similia similibus cu-
rantur, Hahnemann was consistent in his practice only to the
utmost extreme, until a few years ago, when he substituted for it,
his "great truths."

The following few interesting specimens may satisfy the curiosity
of our indulgent reader, and show the practical application which
Hahnemann has made of this maxim.

If a man has taken his dinner too hastily, has swallowed many
indigestible things, has drank too much spirituous liquors, or has
eaten some tainted food; in short, if it be evident that he has injur-
ed his stomach in some such manner before he fell sick, every man
of common sense would prescribe acontrarium, viz. an emetic, as
the best remedy; the beneficial effects of which are moreover con-
firmed by innumerable instances. Hahnemann thinks, in his Or-
ganon, (pp. 6 and 7) such a real causal treatment, imaginary
and highly obnoxious, and, instead of the emetic, recommends, as
the best remedy, to smell of a sugar-pellet, made of starch and
sugar, not larger than a hempseed, and slightly moistened with a
high solution of the juice of Pulsatilla ; that is, at least, with the

part of a grain of the said juice, or a fraction equal to one,

divided by one with sixty zeros.

On Org. p. 59, Hahnemann quotes F. H. Lange, an old author
on domestic medicine, who has found nutmeg salutary in hyster-
ics. This single authority is sufficient for him to add, " Of course
" for no other than the same homoeopathic reason ; since, accord-
" ing to F. Schmid and Cullen, it also caused, when given in large
" doses to healthy persons, a fainting of the senses and a general
" senselessness-" That any substance, even the most innocent
and wholesome food and drink, when taken to excess, will always
cause, in persons easily subjected to hysterics, etc. such affections,
and that none but a fool would draw from such a single instance
any conclusion, is no object of consideration to the close-thinking
homoeopathisis; who, however, find no fault that their master re-
jects, on the other side, all statements confirmed by thousands of
trust-worthy men. This and similar inferences, drawn from do-
mestic substances, by Hahnemann, refute his assertion, on page
53, where he explains, why such large doses of homceopathically
acting drugs were found salutary by many authors quoted by him,

113

though they must have rather been of great injury. He states,
that this may be ascribed to the use of the drugs, by which they
have lost their efficacy ; or to their operation as cathartics, by
which they were soon evacuated ; or also to the simultaneous use
of drugs, which acted as antidotes to them. The first reason can-
not be true of such substances as nutmeg, and is also a supposi-
tion demanding proof; because every one will believe, that,
among all these distinguished men, some at least have been ho-
nest, and anxious to administer to their patients the best drugs
and the best preparations. The second reason refutes his expla-
nation of the first — and after-operations, and if combined with the
third reason, contradicts the absolute and unconditional salutary
effect of his homoeopathic drugs.

Ladies, suffering from giddiness or oppression, must not object
if their homoeopathic doctor visits them smoking a pipe or a cigar ;
for, on page 55 of the Organon, Hahnemann proves the salutary
effects of tobacco for such indispositions, by only one quotation from
Diemerbroek, one of the greatest physicians in Amsterdam, two
centuries ago, who cured himself from similar affections during
an extensive epidemic ; though probably this ingenious Dutch-
man did it merely, as many physicians still do in Germany and
Holland on similar occasions, because he found his pipe very plea-
sant and useful for offensive smells, and protective against infection,
to which he was exposed as an able and extensive practitioner.

On page 61 of the same work he asks whether, if any one being
exposed to a cold wet air, take a little bitter-sweet, (Solatium
dulcamara, L.) and catches a severe cold, it is not a proof
that this plant produces the symptoms of a cold, and must there-
fore also cure colds ? This " great genius, by whose watchful
" attention to minutiae a new era has dawned upon all the natural
" sciences," as Dr. Hering tells the Americans, on page 24 of his
Concise View, considers here as a mere nothing the influence of a
cold wet air, which daily experience proves fully sufficient for
producing a severe cold, a catarrhal or rheumatic fever, and fre-
quently the most dangerous acute or chronic diseases. But he
thinks the infinite part of this plant, which every body knows is
quite inoffensive in small allopathic doses, to be so highly in-
jurious, that it is not worth while for him to mention a cold damp
air, even only as an accessory cause ! No wonder, on pp. 246

15

114

and 247 of his Organon, he suggests explicitly to the homoeopa-
thic physician, not to mind the stories of their patients, relating,
as the cause of their long sufferings, " a cold acquired long ago,
"(by getting wet all over, or by a cold drink after over-heating,) a
" fright, a distortion of a limb, (also " sometimes a bewitching,
" &ic."*) " All these things are too trifling to produce, in healthy
" jwrsons, diseases of long standing, which grow worse from year to
" year, as is the nature of all chronic diseases arising from itch."

Among the great discoveries of Hahnemann, drawn from " his
exceedingly pure and simple observations," we may name fore-
most his assertion, that ophthalmia, or inflammation of the eyes, is
frequently caused by Roses. All must fly, therefore, from places

" Where o'er the verdant ground
" Her living carpet nature spreads; .
" Where the green bower, with roses crown'd,
" In showers its fragrant foliage sheds."

Old authors mention to us many very singular causes which injure
this, our noblest sense ; and Ovid, in his Remed. Amor. lib. 2.
already says, —

" Dum spectant oculi la;sos, laeduntur et ipsi,
" Multaque corporibus transilione nocent."

But hitherto nobody was aware of the great risk he runs by
smelling this delightful gift of spring, this beautiful flower consi-
dered by all poets as the emblem of innocence ! What reason has
the old philosopher to make such a cruel accusation of our favor-
ite flower, the Rose ? Is it the result of his not " over-refined" che-
mical analysis, or, at least, of some experiments which, like so
many others, he only has made ? No : some obscure old medical
author, who, as a stupid allopathist, deserves of course no credit
for any thing else, has told him so : but as he says, nobody can
doubt it, principally because rose-water is an old domestic remedy
for inflamed or sore eyes. It could not, however, be so favorite
a remedy in the spirit of the homoeopathic maxim, similia simili-
bus curantur, unless it produces ophthalmia ; ergo, every one
who smells of roses will unavoidably have his eyes inflamed.

Ancient authors must have been ignorant of the danger to

* We would advert here to this expression of Hahnemann, by which he ranks
"bewitching" with other important causes, which are, in his opinion, erronequsly al-
leged by tlir patient. The discussion about las thud maxim will explain this mure

minute l\

115

smell of roses ; for Cicero, (in Verrem. 11) states, that it was cus-
tomary with the kings in Bithynia to fill the cushions of their beds
or sofas with roses: and Virgil sings, "Nescio quis teneros oculos
mihi fascinat agnos." It is also an object of curiosity to know,
by what antidote the people in many oriental countries are pro-
tected against ophthalmia, who distil such large quantities of essen-
tial oil of roses, and use it so frequently as a cosmetic. We have
never seen it mentioned by any traveller, not even by Lady Mon-
tague, that the beautiful Circassian girls suffer on that account with
inflamed eyes. But no matter, it must be true ! he says so, in
his Organon, on pp. 59 and 60.

In our humble opinion, Hahnemann, by whom, according to
Dr. Hering, on page 19, " the most important medicinal energies
of nature have been investigated/' could have recommended a
much surer homoeopathic remedy against inflamed eyes, drawn
also from roses. Every one will certainly admit that few
healthy men, or even animals, will escape from having their
eyes inflamed, when pricked or scarified with the thorns of
roses, for which Hahnemann could have quoted still older and
also modern authorities ; although this operation, called ophthal-
moxysis, was originally performed with cars of barley or rye.

Samuel Hahnemann, whom we have seen so exceedingly
averse to all names of diseases, enriches, however, the profession, on
page 67 of his Organon, with a new disease, termed by him coniv-
sion-sickness. He says, that the symptoms of the drug-sicknets, pro-
duced in healthy persons by the use of Arnica montana, L. are simi-
to the symptoms which partly sometimes happen after a more or
less violent contusion of a part. Arnica must therefore, of course,
be considered as a specific remedy against the consequences of all
contusions. In his opinion it is only downright allopathic non-
sense to bleed, leech, foment, or even to resort to trepanning, in
severe cases of such a kind ; a trillionth or decillionth part of a
grain of arnica-juice will cure all contusions easily, safely, and
quickly.

It appears that Hahnemann's attention was particularly attract-
ed by the less common German name, amongst half a dozen, for
Arnica, viz. Fallkraut, (falling-herb). According to the many drug-
sickness symptoms, mentioned in vol. I. of his Materia Medica,

116

it is a very singular plant : it makes, for instance, healthy persons
exceedingly melancholy, and at the same time very gay. Preach-
ers, lawyers, members of congress, in short, all who are and must
be very eloquent, should be cautious not to take a dose of Arnica,
for the same reason, as it is worth recommending to some particu-
larly blessed married men, for the still greater promotion of their
"domestic felicity," because it makes talkative, and of course where
loquacity prevails it will cure it. (See Mat. Med. Vol. I, p. 504.)
In pure inflammatory fevers, encephalitis, or inflammation of
the brain, with delirium, in which a few drops of a spirituous drink
are considered by every allopathist as equivalent to poison, Hah-
nemann recommends (Organon, p. 73) strong wine in small doses,
because a few cases are recorded where it has proved useful.
By quoting (Organ, p. 73), in support of this luminous opi-
nion an old treatise in Ephem. Natur. Cur. entitled, " febris ardens
" spirituosis curata," he shows an ignorance hardly to be met with
in a well educated physician, since febris ardens is not an inflam-
matory disease, but the same as causus, generally a typhus or
putrid fever, where rational medicine has always considered good old
wine a great and almost indispensable remedy. He recommends
wine in encephalitis particularly, because, when taken in excess.
it frequently produces, among other inflammatory symptoms, those
of the tissues of the brain also, and ridicules, on p. 152, the com-
mon allopathist, who is so foolish as to give wine, in order to
strengthen persons exhausted by long sufferings or by other
causes, because its first effect (Erstwirkung) produces only the
feelings of strength, and its after-action (Nachwirkung), is alwavs
exhausting and relaxing. He should, consistently, also recom-
mend a sumptuous dinner with some dozens of hot spiced dishes
as a very salutary remedy in inflammations of the brain, lungs,&c,
where sleeplessness prevails, because the after- operation of such
a dinner is to make one feel sleepy. — We know not why Dr. Her-
ing, (1. c. p. 20,) objects to " the dieting system," and to " starva-
" tion," since, as Hahnemann considers the after-operation so im-
portant, he must know that a small quantity of food administered
to a person almost starved to death, will produce a very pleasant
after-operation ; and, to be consistent, the best mode of restoring
persons, suffering by consumptive diseases, would be to starve and
to diet them alternately. — It is lucky for the patients of homceo-
pathists, that they are opposed to external remedies, and are bound

117

to prescribe such fancifully snuilldoses. Their singular conceptions

about t.hc first-and after-operations, would sometimes induce some
of their rude brethren to horse-whip their patients ; for. provided
no wounds are inflicted, the martyr of their " law of nature,"
will feel a very pleasant after-operation, when the dose has been
applied. Rude allopathists and their patients are frequently in a
similar manner deceived by the same feelings of ease and com-
fort, when powerful emetics, and similar injudicious prescriptions,
have ceased to operate.

Hahnemann, though opposed to all external remedies, alludes.Oig.
p. 95, to the beneficial effects of fomentations with hot water over
the head, when the brain is inflamed by astroke of the sun } or if the
head is in any other manner morbidly affected by its exposure to
excessive heat : quite natural ; because a dangerous inflammation
of the brain arises from the same cause, and the mode of applying
cold fomentations is considered one of the most superior allopathic
remedies ; and ergo — most foolish and murderous in his eyes.

The learned Dr. Hering proclaims to the world, on page 1G of
his Concise View, that, " physicians must again become students,
" and that they were unwilling to do :" we shall continue to prove
how correct he is, but not only with regard to physicians, but to all
mankind, interested in such great discoveries. — Hahneman, Org. p.
84, asks : " what will suffocate sooner than the vapor of burning sul-
" phur ? and the same vapor of burning sulphur," he says, " is found
"to be the best remedy to revive persons asphyctic from other suffocat-
" ing causes." Indeed ! it is strange that this " great benefactor of his
" race,' 1 did not recommend also the rope as an excellent remedy
to revive asphyctic persons, since it is prima facie evident, that it
answers extremely well his homoeopathic maxim and the inge-
nious applications which he makes of it. How many worthy men
would have been preserved to the world and their families, espe-
cially in a certain highly civilised country, if this marvelous
homoeopathic after-operation of a rope should have been known
long since ! — Is it not to be seriously deplored that " with blessings
" on its wings, the great discovery reached to every quarter of the
" earth" — so late ! — We believe our Samuel abstained from mi-
nutely mentioning this further application of his reviving mea-
sures only on account of his professed aversion to all external re-
medies. Our conjecture appears confirmed by his comments on
pages 93 and 94 of the same work ; " electricity, as is known," he

118

says, gi causes a shortening of the muscles, which resembles tha
" in convulsions, <fcc., and Theden restored by electricity a girl
" ten years old, who by lightning had lost her voice, and had be-
" come almost lame in her left arm, though her arms and legs
" were in a constant, and involuntary motion, and her left fingers
" in a constant spasmodic contraction. 1 ' We learn also from this
remark, that, maugre the above quoted duplicity of Hahnemann
and his disciples, in regard to the large and again small doses of
drugs for their experiments on healthy persons, they are more in
favor of the large than of the small ones for their trials on healthy
persons, and that we have been correct in adopting the former as
the basis of our discussion: for nobody, a " close thinking" ho-
moeopathist excepted, will deny, that a thunder-stroke contains a
pretty large allopathic dose of electricity.

The conception of Hahnemann in regard to the protection of

the cow-pox against small-pox is likewise very remarkable and

contradictory to his maxim, similia similibus curantur. Discordant

with his repeated and really blasphemous expressions in regard to

the vital powers of nature, saying, for instance, on page 2G of his

Organon, " The wretched and exceedingly imperfect effort of the

" vital power in curing acute diseases without assistance, is a spec-

" tacle which challenges all mankind to active commiseration.

" and us to the exertion of all our intellectual powers, to put an

" end to this self-torment, by a genuine salutary cure, (fee. 1 ' — he

exclaims on page 80 of the same work, " can cow-pox protect

"against small-pox otherwise than in a homoeopathic manner?

" This disease which, besides other similarities with the small-pox,

" appears only once during the whole human life, leaves the same

" deep cicatrices and presents also the same swelling of the axillary

" glands, a similar fever, the same areola, and even the sameoph-

" thalmia and convulsions, which the smallpox produces. The

" cow-pox would extinguish and cure the small-pox even after it.

" had appeared, provided the sin all- pox were not stronger than

" the cow-pox; the latter wants therefore only a higher degree of

" strength to cure the disease which, according to the law of

" nature, is required in addition, to the homoeopathic similarity for

" the cure. We can therefore apply this homoeopathic remedy

" only in advance, before the small-pox affects the body," &c.

Leaving unnoticed many material objections which could be made

to these false statements, in subjects of daily occurrence to the

119

profession, they contradict palpably the homceopaihic maxims:
1st. That no hotnceopathic remedy cud be used in too small a dose,
&c, because, tbe smallest quantity of vaccine virus used for vacci-
nation, will always be many billion times larger than any ho-
moeopathic dose of a drug ; 2d. According to ibe maxim similia
similibua curantur, and according to Hahnemann's explana-
tions, as stated above, it is not explained why tbe cow-pox should
not extinguish, check or destroy ibe small-pox at any time
of its existence, as all homoeopathic drugs are said to do, which
therefore also are not used as prophylactics, but as remedies for
tbe existing disease. Should ibis not be tbe meaning of Hahne-
mann, he could not claim to cure diseases already existing, audit
would follow therefrom, that every person, being ignorant what
disease may befal him, would be obliged to take, through bis whole
lifetime, every month at least, one dose of all known homoeopathic
drugs, if he wishes to be protected against all diseases.

The author of the Concise View recommends, (page 17) in con-
formity with his master, the application of heat to a scalded limb,
and on the contrary, cold to a frost-bitten one. Hahnemann ac-
counts on page 157 of his Organon for this advice, by the com-
mon experiment, in which, if one hand only is bathed with hot
water, it feels of course much warmer than the other hand left free
(first-operation, Erstwirkung,) but removed from the hot bath and
dried, it will afterwards feel colder than the other, (after-operation,
Nachwirkung,) and the contrary will prove true if ice be used.
Both our authors support these experiments by instances on re-
cord, in which the treatment performed in accordance with these
experiments succeeded. Ignorant of the physical causes of these
phenomena, which, as belonging to the third maxim, we shall dis-
cuss afterwards, they take no notice of the majority of cases, where
cold applied to scalded limbs, and warmth to those which were
frost-bitten, afforded safe relief and cure, provided that both were
judiciously applied in respect to the degree of the affection.

On the same page of his pamphlet, Dr. Hering mentions, in
further corroboration of homceopathia, that the cure of certain
cases of acidity of the stomach, suggested to him by an American,
may be best effected, not with magnesia, a contrarium, but with
lemon juice, a simile. We doubt very much whether he would
succeed in curing all kinds of acidity of the stomach with lemon-
juice, even in allopathic doses, as it was probably used by our

120

American colleague. Tlie learned Dr. Heriug ought to know,
that other acids, as particularly Haller's elixir of vitriol, were long
since highly recommended for the same symptom, but nevertheless
they fail in many cases, where drugs very different horn, or rather
opposite to acids, as the alkalies, aromatics, bitters, &c, are more
salutary. These cases, though generally of minor importance,
may clearly prove the preference of general principles, drawn
from causes and not merely from symptoms. Rational medicine
does not consider pyrosis itself as a disease, but only as a com-
mon symptom of dyspepsia, which may co-exist or not with the
latter. One who uses lemon-juice or any similar remedy to cure
pyrosis, upon the principle similia similibus curantur, will unques-
tionably cure those cases in which the cause is removed by it, as
in hvperaesthesia or paresthesia of the stomach, in some func-
tional disorder of the liver, he, but he will be unsuccessful and
even do injury in many others, in aiuesthcsia of the stomach, hys-
teria, he which another one, trusting to the opposite but less er-
roneous maxim, contraria contrariis curantur, will perhaps cure
by his antacids. But there are many cases which will yield to
neither method, and where both practitioners will fail, because they
are merely guided by delusive symptoms, whereas the rational phy-
sician viewing correctly the proper cause of this symptom, will re-
sort probably with immediate success, to the proper medicines,
without believing the processes in the stomach to be similar to
those instituted by the chemist in his retort or crucible.

An over-estimate of the symptoms, particularly of those which
may be referred to topical diseases, without due reference to the
much more important anamnesis, or the minute scrutiny of the
occasional causes of a disease, may in many cases be very fatal to
the patient. We have already alluded to these subjects above,
and hope, on another occasion, to detail the results of our prac-
tice, and the great injuries which we have frequently seen inflict-
ed by similar rude modes of a mere symptomatic treatment. We
may, however, be permitted to add a few words, illustrating still
more the great injuries of a merely symptomatic method, which
will affect homoeopathia particularly, when, as may be expected,
its votaries will soon abandon the third maxim about the small
doses, and merely sustain for a short time the second, about the
similarity of the drug and-disease-symptoms. Two cases may

121

not only present similar symptoms, but, may also be rightly re-
ferred to th'e same affected organ, and nevertheless differ so wide-
ly, that the life of the patient is endangered in a few hours, by the
least disregard of the previous state of the patient, and of what hap-
pened before the attack. In illustration of this, we cannot find a
better instance, than the illusive similarity of a high degree of in-
toxication to delirium tremens, so satisfactorily explained by Dr.
Samuel Jackson, of Northumberland in Pennsylvania, in his able
treatise, published in the American Journal of Medical Sciences,
No. XIV. Feb. 1831. We have long entertained the opinion,
that the two opposite modes of treatment, so frequently recorded
by faithful authors, must depend upon an error in the anamnesis;
some recommending, as the abstract of their practice, Sutton's
method with large doses of opium, others, for the same reason,
the strict antiphlogistic method, by bleeding, leeching, cold fomen-
tations, &lc. Intoxication and delirium tremens are neither of
them as frequent in the place of our former residence, nor over the
whole of Germany at present, as they are in this country, though
intemperance has been, according to the oldest statements on re-
cord, among the most prominent vices of the Germans. Tacitus
for instance, says in his Germania : " Diem noctemque continuare
*' potando, nulli probrum, crebrae ut inter vinolentos, rixse, raro
" conviciis, ssepius caede et vulneribus transiguntur." — In a
hospital and large dispensary, entrusted to our care for upwards
of fifteen years, we very seldom saw a case, and therefore we only
could observe the correctness of Dr. Jackson's remarks in but a
few instances.* But it is evident, in this respect, that so much
does not depend upon the similarity of the symptoms, which is very
great, as upon an acute induction, drawn from different particu-
lars and forming together a clear aetiology, as the very founda-
tion of a safe rational treatment. For, opium given in large doses
to a highly intoxicated person, would unquestionably increase the

* \Ve shall perhaps mention at another opportunity, the reasons why intemperance is
now less common in Germany than in many other countries. We would mention here,
only that the Germans are generally more intemperate in wine, and particularly in heer,
than in brandy, and we think they do not become so easily drunk as the people in this
country, owing probably to the greater uniformity of their climate, to their frequent
amusements hy music, dancing, and by other national pleasures and fetes. It may
also be easily explained by psychical principles, why cheerful entertainments lessen
the inclination to the higher degrees of intemperance, and absorb or consume a con-
siderable part of the noxious influence of liquors, whereas the propensity to intempe-
rance in persons who live retired from company and are apt to muse, is not only
greater but also in itself more ruinous

16

122

danger of his stale equally as much as a powerful antiphlogistic
treatment would injure the other one affected by delirium tremens,
whereas the inverse method would prove salutary to both of them.
The rational physician, engaged in an extensive practice, will
every day meet with similar cases, where life depends upon an
equally minute distinction, acquired from the information of the
previous and existing particular conditions of the case, and its
more or less remote causes. Such minute and mostly very impor-
tant data, which are known much better and more easily by the
family physician than by another, enable him therefore, to detect
the true cause of a disease much more quickly, and thereby, all
other things being equal, more to benefit the patient.

We may refer also to the similarity of symptoms produced by
different poisons, belonging to the same class, which if taken in a
sufficient quantity, will soon destroy life, if proper aid be not im-
immediately administered, which depends not only on the general
treatment, but must also correspond to the specific chemical quality
of the poison. Admitted that every metallic or narcotic poison
will present on a very minute examination, besides the general
symptoms of all metallic or narcotic poisons, also specific symp-
toms ; but they are certainly not always observable immediately.
A homceopathist, especially one of those finished without the least
professional education in a couple of months, and relying only on
his symptoms, would, as they generally do, particularly in such
extraordinary cases, run home to consult his drug-symptom-text-
book, then institute possibly, a long cross-examination and write
down minutely its results, in strict accordance with Hahnemann's
explicit advice, and at last he would apply the virtue developed from
one of his drug-atoms, developed, according to similia similibus
curantur, from the same poison which has caused the danger;
and thus undoubtedly, as in many other less conspicuous instances,
be the negative cause of the death of an unfortunate individual,
who might probably have been restored, if a stomach-pump, the
proper antidote, and other remedies prescribed by rational me-
dicine, had been applied in time.

After attempting to demonstrate by the preceding remarks, that
with our imperfect senses, we can by no means rely upon symp-
toms alone for a correct diagnosis, since similar symptoms fre-
quently depend upon very different causes, we will now endeavour

L23

to prove by a few instances, that also very different symptoms may
be attributed in the same manner to one and the same cause, and
that therefore very different diseases may be radically cured by
the same treatment. Let us suppose that ten persons, alike in sex,
age, apparent constitution, and other respects, have exposed them-
selves to the same obnoxious causes, for instance, after being ex-
cited and profusely perspiring from dancing, drinking spirituous
liquors, he. have exposed their feet to wet cold. In all probability
each of them will be affected differently, in consequence of some
particular local disposition, of which, however, none of them was
ever before aware ; one, for instance, will be attacked with pleu-
risy, another with angina, a third with ophthalmia, he. he. A
rational physician, if called in, and informed of the occasional
causes of their sufferings, which collectively have produced the
proximate general cause of their different sickness, viz. checked
perspiration, injured conductive capacity of the cutaneous nerves,
plethoric accumulation of the blood in different organs with a pro-
pensity to inflammation, or the latter itself, he. will probably cure
them all readily, by the same method of treatment, varying only
very slightly; according to the parts affected, such as removing
the light from the inflamed eyes, forbidding much speaking to
the pleuritic, he. ; he will probably attain his main object by pre-
scribing warm stimulating foot-baths, gentle diaphoretics, he.
whilst the homceopathist, directing his whole attention only to the
symptoms, after comparing them with the image of the corres-
ponding drug-sickness, he., not only loses much time to no pur-
pose, but leaves perhaps all these patients uncured by the use of
his drug-virtues developed from an atom of Aconitum for the pleu-
ritis, of Pulsatilla for the ophthalmia, of Spongia usta for the an-
gina, he. he. If, for instance, one of these patients is affected
by gout, and is attacked by a chemosis, which, unless treated very
actively by antiphlogistics, will destroy the eyes in less than twen-
ty-four hours, the immense injury of such a nonsensical symptom
atic treatment by an homceopathist will be still more evident.

In cases like these, where the connection between the cause of
the morbid process and its consequences is so clear, the rational
physician can generally restore health safely and quickly without
recurring to symptoms ; the morbid process not, being yet compli-
cated by the rapid, progress of multiplied conned ions, either direct or

124

antagonistical, with the different system? and organs ; the depend-
ance of the effect upon its cause is so plainly manifest, as to
admit a speedy restoration, being apparently almost like a me-
chanical connection between both, though we would by no means
compare the vital actions to any mechanical power. In such cases
rational medicine shines forth in splendor, and shows its great
preponderance over all empiricism, so that an enlightened class of
people, anxious to have the slightest indisposition removed by their
physician, will enjoy, in a series of years, great advantages in their
healthy conditions and vigour, if compared with another class, which
call only for assistance upon their physicians when the disease
has considerably advanced. In the machinery of an organised
living body, and especially of man, which is so many times more
complicated than the most compound artificial machine, and upon
which so many, and even quite another world of mental influences
are operating, the effect of a cause seldom remains stationary,
without spreading and combining with many others sympatheti-
cally, which become again the cause of other effects, and so on
reciprocally to an indefinite large number of causes and their
effects, till the last of them are recognisable by us as symptoms.
No homoeopathist can deny this to be the course, if he atlaches
any meaning to Hahnemann's expressions, "first-.counter-,and after-
" operation," and he must at least admit, that his object is not
merely to remove the symptoms, but to remove the disease itself,
or to cure the patient by removing the symptoms. If therefore a
disease has lasted a long time, before the homoeopathist has been
called to attend, he, in referring only to the symptoms present, will
not observe the symptom produced by the first original cnuso,
(symptoma causae) but the consecutive and different ones, which are
very distantly referable to the first effect, resulting from the original
cause, (symptomata symptomatuni.) Even in successfully applying
his drug to all the present symptoms, forming what the homoeopa-
thist terms, " the image of the natural disease, (Krankheitsbild.)"
with all the minute prominent symptoms, their shades, &c, they do
not affect the original symptoms, but only those which arise from the
many preceding effects, all of which are more or less complicated and
dissimilar to the former, as they are more or less distant from them
by going through the many different periods and developments of
the disease. If, therefore, Hahnemann's assertions should be cre-
dited, viz. that one atom of his drug, though taken only once a

125

week, or sometimes only once every six weeks, should be sufficient
to " extinguish" all the causes and effects, or all the symptoms,
the original as well as the consecutive, " without ever doing any in-
jury," this alone would require an implicit belief in the supernatural
powers of his virtues developed from atoms, which act almost with
more judicious discernment than rational beings. These ratioci-
nations can alone explain easily, why the trials with the homoeo-
pathic method, instituted by homceopathists under the eyes of im-
partial observers, as we have stated in the beginning of this trea-
tise, have either entirely failed, or have succeeded only in the same
ratio with other similar cases, which were left entirely to the ope-
rations of nature. We doubt very much, whether by the multi-
plication of drug-symptoms, which, in some cases have already
been increased to upwards of a thousand, the prophecy of Dr.
' Her in g will ever be fulfilled, when he says, on p. 24, 1. c. " in fu-
" ture times the new pathology will as far excel the old, as do the
" natural sciences of the present period those of the last century
" But, at the bed-side of the patient, the homoeopathic physician
" is unmindful of this future science. 51 ( — no doubt, of course! — )
" His sole inquiry is after the symptoms, because the symptoms
" alone determine his choice of the remedy, and upon the fulness
" and accuracy with which these are noted, rests the entire ma-
" nagement of the cure. All, therefore, depends upon the correct
" examination of the patient, but not upon any possible opinions
" concerning the nature and essence of the disease, nor upon learn-
" ed views concerning its concealed seat."

We doubt whether the most zealous and partial opposer of this
professional fanaticism could give a better description of it, than
that which we read in these few lines. Though a faithful abstract
of many similar expressions in Hahnemann's works, none indeed
could express with more frankness the open tendency of homceo-
pathia to the rudest empiricism. Beware of any possible opinion!
Guard against any views or conjectures which might perhaps lead
to the discovery of the concealed seat of the disease ! Renounce
all the higher intellectual faculties, and believe blindly and impli-
citly in the dictates of a man, who says, that the healing art be-
gins with him, that he alone has discovered the great truth, by
a superficial glance, without philosophy, without chemistry, with-
out anatomy, physiology, and all the other sciences hitherto con-
sidered indispensable to spy the mysteries of nature ; that he

126

alone knows how to expound her laws and to interpret her actions
in the remotest recesses of animal life, hitherto concealed from all
other mortal eyes! Such are the watch-words of these infatuated
fanatics. How correctly Fr. Bacon says, in his work, De Augm.
Scient. " Licet de factis ipsis, licet hnmani animi pignora sint
" certissima, non prorsus tamen fidendum ; nisi diligenter ac
" attente pensitatis prius illorum et magnitudine et proprietate.—
" Illud enim verissimum ; fraus sibi in parvis fidem praestruit ut
'* majore emolumento fallat."

To say nothing of all other absurdities of this whole doctrine,
if such maxims should ever prevail in the medical profession, it
might be predicted with the most possible certainty, that all the
great advantages acquired in medicine for many centuries would
be totally lost and all advancements entirely checked.

No rational physician will deny the great value and necessity
of a minute symptomatology, which, though erroneously consi-
dered identical with the diagnosis, only partly belongs to that im-
portant branch of practical medicine. — Symptomatology is as in-
dispensable for the diagnosis, as records faithfully collected by
the chronicler or annalist, are for the historian : but never will
these be considered fully sufficient for a philosophical history of
a civilized nation in any period of its existence ; nor will the mere
catalogue of the deeds and the fate of a man distinguished in his-
tory, even with the addition of his faithful likeness, be a substi-
tute for his instructive pragmatical biography.

The rational physician, estimating the symptoms, not as the
only or principal points, but as very uncertain and delusive signs,
will, from the symptoms, (symptomatology) from the whole his-
tory of the case, and many other data, which have occurred pre-
vious to the attack (anamnesis and .-etiology) form a whole (diag-
nosis), from which he derives a general plan of treatment, (general
therapia) divided into more or less different sections, (special the-
rapia) which he will retain or alter, according to circumstances,
showing cither the correctness or incorrectness of his whole plan
and its single sections. He will consider a disease which has al-
ready lasted some time, as a compound of many causes and their
effects originating from one fundamental cause, similar to a larger
or smaller ball of thread, containing one nucleus, which he endea-
vours to unwind until he comes to the nucleus, to the primitive

127

eausc itself, or at least to its primary effect. — His task resembles
the untired exertions of a true philanthropist, who undertakes to
reseue a wretched person, sunk by a bad education and by mis-
fortune into vice and misery : he will notice minutely his counte-
nance, the expressions of his thoughts and feelings, and even his
negligent dress ; but he will pay most particular regard to his true
biography, he will scrutinize minutely the different causes and
their effects obvious in the biography, until he can arrive at one
original cause, and project a circumspect plan for successive ope-
rations, to remove the first cause, if possible ; and will not fancy
that he can make him sensible of the delights, happiness, and self-
satisfaction of a virtuous life, by one moral speech, or, much less,
by another dress : and only then, if he cannot find the primitive
cause, or cannot successfully combat it, he will attempt to amelio-
rate or to remove the external conditions, the symptoms : he may,
by so doing, afterwards succeed in ameliorating or removing the
first cause also ; but this evidently depends more on mere chance
than the first plan.

With regard to the unwinding of the disease to its commence-
ment from a simple or more or less compound cause, it is indeed
very remarkable, how often a close observer will find nature pur-
suing this course in re-establishing health, sometimes even with-
out medical assistance ; though all advocates of methods which
rely only upon symptoms, and especially homoeopathists, have not
the least conception thereof. Thus, severe inflammatory diseases
of the serous membranes of the brain, or of the mucous membranes
of the throat, of the intestines, etc. in children, frequently arising
from a suppressed cold, or from a badly treated chronic eruption
of the skin, &ic. appear generally to be not safely cured, until the
original local affection is re-established and properly treated. The
profession has, on that account, in almost all ages, mistaken si-
milar processes for critical evacuations, by which a morbid mat-
ter is thrown out of the bod}', which the fancy of the physicians pre-
sumes to be the only cause of the disease ; whereas it is to be regard-
ed merely as the natural consequence of the more energetic gene-'*
ral vital reaction, and of the re-beginning healthy functions of
the secretory organs, unable immediately to prepare a sound se-
cretory or excretory matter ; or of processes which tend to restore
the former general degree of relative health, and endeavour also

128

to re-establish the less important disease ; being the accessory and
simultaneous acts of nature in her operations to restore health.

Such presumed critical evacuations or deposits, if forced by drugs
directly, instead of judiciously supporting their beneficial cause,
must do much injury. Critical symptoms, as well as the critical pe-
riods of most acute diseases, are for this reason, undoubtedly highly
important, not only for the prognosis but also for the treatment,
inasmuch as their appearance, after foreboding favorable symptoms
and simultaneous marks, is mostly a sign, but not a cause of the
patients approaching lecovery; by following thissuggestion,thegreat
value of their minute knowledge, to be drawn from the writings of
creditable practitioners of all ages and at the bed-sides of patients,
will be increased rather than lessened. Wherever, in compli-
cated cases, the profession acts in conformity with nature, we may
consider it generally a certain sign of convalescence, if slighter
symptoms, which accompanied the first outset of the disease, reap-
pear ; a process which clearly explains the suggestions above ex-
pressed, in regard to the numerous changes of the causes and their
elfects into other causes, &c, and which is very properly called by
some modern German authors, retroformation (Rueckbildung.)
In children, for instance, in whom nature operates more regu-
larly, especially in regard to the re-productive processes, the recovery
from very severe diseases, frequently arising from neglected cold,
seldom fails, even under the continuance of the palhognomonical
symptoms, when they begin to sneeze, and when their Schneiderian
membrane rebegins to secrete mucus profusely ; except in the last
stages of scarlet fever, with diphtheritis maligna and inflammatory
affections of the brain, where this symptom proves generally very
ominous, or is, as the profession used to term such signs, only a
symptomatic one.

Among the many morbid phenomena which caused the most
erroneous suggestions,in theold medical schools as well as in homo'o-
pathia, we may mention such morbid functions as became habitual,
or those which by their long continuance became not only com-
patible with tolerable good health, but seemed essentially tobelong to
the latter, so as to cause, when suppressed, severe diseases. The ge-
neral opinion, still maintained by most physicians, that the suspen-
sion of the habitual morbid process itself, is the cause of a merely
contemporaneous disease, is owing also to their superficial reliance
upon symptoms, being not aware that the absence or coexistence of

129

two or more symptoms docs not imply their dependence upon each
other as cause and effect, but authorizes us rather to adopt with
more propriety, a common cause, producing both the suspension of
the habitual morbid function as well as the new disease. In conse-
quence of these false conceptions their plan of treatment being in ge-
neral exclusively directed to restore the suppressed habitual secretion,
is usually injurious. Hahnemann, in his Organon and in his work
on chronic diseases, considers all habitual morbid functions as
produced by the rude and impetuously acting vital powers, which
being, by this their allopathic mode of cure, incapable of directly
removing the very cause of almost all the chronic diseases, namely
itch, substitute for this general disease a local one, generally worse
than the former. We shall soon see in what this, his latest doctrine,
consists, and mention here only that the plan generally adopted by
the profession, for the cure of such suppressed habitual morbid
functions must frequently fail ; if it however succeeds, the consti-
tution of the patient is often more or less impaired by it, leaving
him disposed either to a severer relapse of the same habitual disease
or to some other chronic one, as all indirect treatment usually does.
We have often observed these natural consequences of such erro-
neous medical treatment, for instance, when the suppressed hae-
morrhoidal flux,* or the suppressed menstruation itself have been
considered the causes of the disease, and patients suffering with
the latter, and illtreated with repeated bleedings, leeches, the
strongest emmenagogues, &c, fell, like many others, victims to

* This is not the proper place to discuss more minutely such topics ; but from
long experience we feel entitled to suggest that hamiorrhoids or piles, whether lluent
or not, inherited or not, in young as well as in old persons, mostly depend not upon a
plethora, or orgasmus in the vena portarum, obstructions in the liver and other abdo-
minal organs, &c, nor upon a predominant venosity, so much advocated in modem
times as the cause of many diseases, but upon a morbid action of the lower part of the
spinal marrow, the nerves arising from it, and their important anatomical and func-
tional connections with the abdominal and other ganglia. The different morbid affec-
tions heretofore named, may themselves be considered as the consequence of this
cause ; and this will be best explained by the intimate connexion of hecmorrhoids
with so many dangerous chronic diseases, and the salutary use of internal and exter-
nal remedies belonging to the class of nervina, when aided by slight digestives and a
proper mental and physical regimen. Though the diseases of the spinal marrow, after
being so long neglected by the profession, have become lately a hobby with some
distinguished practitioners, especially in Germany, they may however be considered to
a much larger extent than the profession is still aware of, as the original cause of
many serious and especially chronic diseases. Hypochondria, hysteria, diabetes,
fistula ani, and similar important diseases in the abdominal organs, may depend upon
the morbid Innervation of these respective organs from small diseased places of the
spinal marrow, and the nerves originating from them, so that very small distances in
the spine may decide on the formation of one, in preference to another of the diseases
mentioned, and these may therefore be also most easily and quickly remedied, by
a minute reference to* the origin of the nerves belonging to the diseased organs, and
to Charles Bell's great discovery regarding the different origin of the nerves of sen-
sation and of motion

17

130

consumption, dropsy, paralysis, &c, from inanition, with or without
the reappearance of the habitual hemorrhoidal or menstrual flux,
so long desired ; while on the contrary, in similar cases, patients
have easily beenrestored,by relying only upon general principles and
indications, without particular regard to the reappearance or non-
appearance of the former symptom, the habitual morbid evacuation,
which, in nine times out of ten, is suppressed merely from debility, or
from sympathetical causes, to the benefit rather than to the injury of
the patient, until the removal of the true cause admits their spon-
taneous, and only then also, salutary reappearance. In several
diseases such habitual morbid secretions will, therefore, be ob-
served to continue and to increase considerably, and, nevertheless,
the health not be restored, but rather still more seriously injured, until
the increased morbid secretion is again reduced to its former degree ;
and this frequently is done best by such remedies as in healthy
persons or in other diseases, would produce the same. As we
have seen, these facts belong to the most prominent pillars on
which the author of homoeopathia has founded and constructed
his maxim, similia similibus curantur ; they readily dazzle the
eyes of many, who are easily misled by their want of judgment
and practical talent. Indeed, the statement being correct, that the
same remedies which in many cases contribute to increase a secre-
tion, are effectual in checking it when superabundant, was too
striking not to be used in support of a doctrine, which even in its
few truths relies solely upon statements or merely palpable facts,
and is advocated by those only, who, ignorant of sound physiological
and pathogenetical principles, depend only on phenomena and
care not to investigate their various causes. The old proverb,
" omne simile claudicat," which is true of homoeopathia in general,
is particularly applicable in these cases. On a nearer examination
they prove just the contrary to what they were intended to prove, viz.
that a mere reliance on symptoms is delusive, whereas on the con-
trary, the conditions under which these phenomena generally
appear, prove to be accessory effects only of the rational treatment,
which operated indirectly or rather apparently upon the sy mptom,
being however directed to counteract directly the cause only. —
Should these cases offer such positive arguments for the correctness
of the homoeopathic fundamental maxim, similia similibus curan-
tur, we should find no case totally at variance with it, and
much less would it be pregnant with the many absurd ities which

131

we have already quoted, and which we shall more fully mention
hereafter. The fact that the same drugs which in most cases ag-
gravated a disease, by increasing a superabundant secretion, check
and cure the same in a few similar cases, proves conclusively, that
the latter cases must depend upon acceossry or unknown causes,
or more properly upon such as are opposite to those of the former. It
is a bad rule that will not work both ways, and an old but always
true saying, "circumstances alter the case." Nobody, for instance,
will assert that water must be the best material for preserving fire,
because in some instances in which it became decomposed by the
heated substances, the violence of the flames was exceedingly in-
creased by it !

Death, by external violence or poison excepted, the rational phy-
sician does not acknowledge the unconditional and absolute action
of any treatment, or of any specific remedy : he uses the same reme-
dies in cases apparently different, and different remedies in cases ap-
parently identical or similar ; his only intention is, and must always
be, to prescribe the same treatment, where he has reason to pre-
sume the same causes. In the cases before us he cannot therefore
admit, either the absolute antipathic, or much less the homoeo-
pathic property of the drug, as directly restraining the profuse
morbid secretion, but must believe that it became restricted by the
consecutory and beneficial effect of the rational treatment upon
the vital powers in general, which could not suffer the cause of the
symptoms longer to prevail ; or that it was the contemporaneous
specific action of the drug upon the affected secretory organ, pro-
moting the same end. This will be the more evident in observing,
that it is not sufficient only to reduce the superabundant morbid
secretion to its former quantity, but also to its former quality, and
that only when this takes place, we may confidently hope that the
vital functions of the whole body and of the diseased secretory
organ are in the best way of recovery. Every attentive practitioner
will, for instance, often observe, that as a very abundant perspira-
tion is a symptom of many acute fevers and of other diseases ; the
former belong mostly to the class of bilious remittent or typhus
fevers, which, if they do not originate from a marsh or another
miasma, or from contagion, frequently arise from checked perspi
ration, and commence from the neglect or illtreatment of the
slight catarrhal or rheumatic affections, which they present in the
beginning. Unless important organs are so affected as to require

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particular care, these fevers and the excessive perspiration will be
safely removed, only when, by a judicious diaphoretic treatment
with ammonia, camphor and similar diffusible sudorifics, the quan-
tity and quality of the perspiration are altered. The profession
uses, particularly in such cases, the term " critical evacuation,"
under the erroneous impression that the matter perspired, being
offensive and chemically different from what it was before, during
the state termed " crude," is the cause of the disease, while, how-
ever, it is merely the consequence of the rebeginning healthy state
of the before suppressed or morbidly altered secretory functions
and normal nervous actions in the skin, and other organs sympa-
thetically connected with it. With similar views the celebrated
German physician, Lentin, stated, about forty years ago, (and we
have often found it correct), that many severe and obstinate chronic
diseases arise only from the sudden suppression of an offensive
habitual perspiration of the feet, and that the disease is with diffi-
culty removed by any remedy, not even by those which abun-
dantly increase the perspiration of the feet, unless its original ha-
bitual offensiveness becomes restored, which he thinks is generally
very difficult. Professor J. J. Albers, at Bonn, in his able treatise
on ulcers of the intestines, (Ueber Darmgeshwuere, 1831), ascribes
some cases of dothienteritis, and its common fatal termination by
abdominal consumption, to the same cause.

From the oldest ages down to the present time, few prejudices
have been retained so firmly as this, that the cure of old
natural ulcers or artificial issues may be very injurious. The
former are often produced by nature, the latter by art, for real allo-
pathic purposes, so much condemned by Hahnemann, though it is
justly considered in medicine, as in all occurrences of common
life, fortunate to acquire for a greater evil or inconvenience, a rela-
tively smaller one. Intimately connected, by their long continuance,
with the whole human economy, their inconsiderate removal by
means which render the individual still more sickly, such as the
constant use of purgatives, antidyscrasics, &c. with a view to re-
move a virulent matter, with or without the topical application of
astringents, desiccatives, or similar remedies, must prove detri-
mental, either directly, because they check a process which habit
has rendered indispensable for tolerable good health, or indirectly,
by reducing the vital energy to such a degree, that it can no longer
continue this process at a distance from important organs, where it

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was less injurious, and which, therefore, now occurs in a more
important part. The chronic ulcer is certainly a very important
disease, which should be cured, if possible, but not merely sup-
pressed. The issue may be salutary in many serious diseases
which are not as easily cured by any other remedy ; but the pre-
sumed necessity of maintaining it for many years, or for life, is
very inconvenient and mostly imaginary. During some severe
diseases, and under the injurious influence of other causes, which
impair the vital energy, natural as well as artificial ulcers of long
standing, frequently heal by themselves, even with the greatest
care taken to keep them open. The exertions to reproduce them,
will prove beneficial, only if the cause of the new accessory disease
is removed, without affecting the state of things which prevailed
before. But by successfully counteracting both causes at once, the
disappearance of an old ulcer, may it have existed ever so long,
will, on the contrary be beneficial.

Hahnemann's assertion, in his Organon, and in his work on
chronic diseases, that before his time, the profession had treated all
chronic eruptions and syphilitic local affections by external reme-
dies only, is one of his many falsehoods, and is contradicted by him-
self, in censuring the allopathic illtreatment of such diseases by
large doses of medicines. The history of practical medicine sadly
proves, that up to the last few years, when it became the fashion of
many physicians to set at stake human life and health by abstain-
ing from all internal remedies in constitutional diseases,* it was
considered almost a crime to apply external remedies in such
cases ; internal medicjnes only were used, and in many cases under
the vague name of specifics, blood-purifyers, &c, they ruined like-
wise the constitutions of many thousands, without any, or with
only apparent relief.

We may also presume, with great propriety, that the different
species and varieties of many diseases belonging to one class,
though presenting to our senses such different figures and shapes,
as, for instance, the great number of exanthematic diseases, some-
times depend upon the same cause, modified only by insignificant

* Mercury, for instance, still so indispensable for the radical cure of all syphilitic
diseases is now so much decried in these complaints by the same physicians who pre-
scribe calomel by tea-spoon-fuls in diseases, where it is of more injury than good,
that even laymen make it now generally, the first condition of an ansyphilitic treat-
ment, not to prescribe for them any mercury ; a mode which, when physicians com-
ply with, from whatever reasons, will be deplored, sooner or later, by the foolish pa-
tient, as v - lr"o W SU ch cases, neglected in a similar manner by homceopathists.

134

individual circumstances, and that, therefore, such minute distinc-
tions, as the profession is indebted for to the researches of Bateman,
Alibert and others, are more interesting to the natural history of
exanthematic diseases in general, than they will ever be of service
to an equally minute medical treatment.

In all those cases, therefore, where diseases arise from a sup-
pressed habitual morbid secretion, or from a similar affection, to be
considered not entirely local, be it a single ulcer, or a chronic cu-
taneous disease, like herpes, impetigo, &c., a rational method of
treatment resorting to the causes, and regarding the symptoms as
less important, will succeed best. In conformity with the laws of ani-
mal life, the proper object of the profession is to reestablish the
disturbed equilibrium, or the correlativeness of the two factors
primarily constituting all organised life, with particular regard to
the extensive as well as intensive energy of all vital actions, and
also to the great variety of the living chemical processes established
in the different systems, organs and parts. If this can be properly
effected, the patient will then recover entirely, even without the
return of his former habitual morbid secretion ; but if the relative
proportion of the two factors, their mutual correlation, and the par-
ticular living chemical processes resulting therefrom, are only partly
and imperfectly re-established, similar to the former state of a
merely relative health, then the patient may likewise recover, but
only to that degree of relative health, which admits of, or even in-
dispensably requires, the recommencement and continuance of the
accustomed morbid secretion.

Among similar prejudices of the profession, existing before
Hahnemann, and particularly entertained by him, we may place the
erroneous conception, that a new disease may cure an old one :
as, for instance, that an intermittent fever may, by succeeding
some inveterate chronic diseases, cure them. This appears as false
as the assertion, that a strong light extinguishes a fainter one,
because the latter becomes invisible ; or, that a greater vice may
cure one of less importance, because the greater one either im-
plies the latter, or destroys the propensity or power of committing
it. If the former is greater, but of another kind, the consequences
of both will be still observable, provided that they do not com-
bine in a third — As allopathists, we adhere to the old orthodox
opinion, that the proper antipathic remedy, reason, applied in

135

time to the additional vice will radically cure the new and the old
vice also : whereas homceopathia, if consistent, would sanction the
abominable opinion, that one vice could only be cured by another
similar one committed in addition, as the best means to ex-
tinguish the first: though, according to the lately published
11 great truth" of Hahnemann, the only cause of all human mise-
ry, physical, mental and moral, and of course also of all human
vices, being the itch, homceopathists may now prescribe a less dis-
graceful antipsoric. — According to an enlightened pathogeny, no
disease can really cure another : if it appear to do so in some
cases, the reason is, that every disease, being manifested by a de-
finite form, materially depending upon its causes, the new form
essentially belonging to the succeeding disease and its greater dis-
turbances of the animal economy, be it produced by a contagion,
a miasma, or any other cause, cannot admit the continuance of
the old form. Two diseases combined with each other in a third
disease and its proper, mostly hybrid form, will therefore also va-
nish together by a proper rational treatment, removing the causes
belonging to both of them. And this will also happen in those
cases, where the weaker disease became suppressed only while the
stronger one prevailed ; but then the former will re-appear and
continue its proper developement and course after the latter has
disappeared. — Hahnemann favours the opinion, that two or more
different diseases may coexist separately, or also be combined toge-
ther in a third : nevertheless he forbids his followers to attend, at
the same time, to more than one disease, or to apply any com-
pound medicine. The logical acuteness of Dr. Hering and his
brethren may notice this opinion, f as another argument of their void
assertion, that " Hahnemann was the first physician who recognized
" it as indispensable in every disease to regard man as a whole."
Hahnemann says more consistently, somewhere in his Orga-
noii or in his Materia Medica, that no substance, and of course no
drug - , is absolutely simple. We would ask, if a homoeopathic drug
consisting according to this suggestion, of two or more constituent
parts, must necessarily act upon twice as many or more symptoms,
and if Hahnemann admits also the coexistence of two or more
diseases combined together in a third, presenting of course, symp-
toms likewise different from both ; what reasonable objection can
he make to remove them altogether, by combining two or more

136

drugs in order to make of them also a third, suitable to the case
before him ; since the drug thus becomes only a little more com-
pound than each of them was before? No person can reasonably
object to the terms of the different drugs, which if added to the
principal drug, refer to additional ends intended by them, such as
" adjuvants, corrigents," &c. Hahnemann ridicules these old pro-
fessional terms, because, as he expressly says, he considers it as an
additional proof of the ignorance of all allopathists in regard to the
diagnosis of the disease, and to the knowledge of the qualities of
the simple drugs. We admit that in the homoeopathic experiments
for ascertaining the proper qualities of drugs, every one must be
tried separately, but we should think, that the bedside of the patient
is for no physician, and much less for homceopathists, the proper
place to institute experiments with their developed drug-virtues,
but that here, they should apply them according to the previous
minute knowledge of all disease-and-drug-symptoms, whenever it
may be necessary to consider two or more natural diseases com-
bined together. The profession has lately become much opposed
to compound prescriptions, but wrongly, since if one cause is the
principal, or if it has taken the lead of the prominent morbid process,
other ones might nevertheless coexist, which, though subordinate
in their character to the former, have an essential influence on its
development and course, and can therefore be properly counter-
acted only by additional drugs. Simple prescriptions, it is true, are
generally the criterion of a well educated and judicious physician, as
they prove, that he is not anxious to consider, by a motley mixture
of many drugs,every slight symptom separately, but that he possesses
a clear conception of the whole disease, and, has formed a concise
plan of treatment. But the first and principal aim of the physician
being to cure the patient, in the safest and quickest manner, and
this end being seldom attainable by the simple drug, on account
of many simultaneous sympathctical affections, the simplicity of
prescriptions, so much overvalued at present by mere fashion,
should never interfere in the least with his duties. In general the
reasons for substituting one drug of a certain class for another of the
same, are important, though also opposed to the tenets of homceo-
pathia. According to the laws of the living organization, and of
the human body particularly, all substances, especially those acting
as artificial stimulants, lose the property of affecting the instability
and of generating a reaction, in direct proportion to the time of its

137

continued definite quantity, however imperceptible it may often be
to our narrowly confined senses. If therefore there are several
drugs similar in their constituent parts and in their action as reme-
dies, and the judicious physician has special reasons for not in-
creasing the dose of one of them, when it refuses service after some
time has elapsed, he may often employ another with success, and
in doses comparatively much smaller than the former was used.

The true cause of this fact will be explained, satisfactorily
only when future chemical investigations shall prove it to depend
upon more or less trifling differences in the proportion of the con-
stituent parts of both ; perhaps, upon a different electro-magnetical
tension. A materia medica, embracing only a few of the most ef-
fectual remedies of a whole class is therefore very defective, and
this defect increases in relation to certain compositions of drugs,
which experience has proved to be more effectual in particular
cases, than the simple drugs of which they consist. The wise
laws of a strict medical police, and the intelligent framers of a
good pharmacopoeia, are, therefore, not over-hasty in declaring a
simple drug or a compound medicine as obsolete, but insist, for
the benefit of the profession and the public, that the pocket of the
apothecary should suffer by his keeping on hand a greater variety
of drugs and medicines than is commonly required, rather than to
lose the means of affording relief to a patient on account of the de-
fectiveness of his stock. — All these considerations are beneath the
elevated mind of the faithful homoeopath ist, who trusts with im-
plicit confidence to his valuable pocket-drug-store — his fancied
arsenal against the contents of Pandora's box ! — It is difficult to
account for Hahnemann's great objection to all compound medi-
cines, except by the greater difficulties which his monstrous sympto-
matology must have presented to him in minutely adapting his
method to complicated cases, and therefore also to compound me-
dicines. We may ascribe this also to his anxious desire to com-
plete a charlatanism quite new, and of his own invention, in pre-
scribing simple drugs, which belaid open to the cyesof the public,
and the credit of which he endeavoured to strengthen and to extol
by delusive experiments and flat treatises, whilst ail other quacks
have hitherto tried to involve their all-curing specifics in mystery
by numerous combinations of drugs.

Hahnemann speaks in many places of his works of the indirect
and direct medical treatment, considering the former as substi-

18

138

tilting one disease for another, and as the only one hitherto pm
sued by the physicians of all schools, and claiming the latter as a
never-failing radical mode of cute for his homoeopathic method.
Though his distinction of a direct and indirect treatment, if taken
in its proper sense, is just, it must be evident to every one, that
even admitting homceopathia to be correct, according to its avowed
reliance on symptoms merely, without reference to any causes, no
medical method could claim with less propriety to be a direct one
than this ; — even as a system of criminal jurisprudence which refers
only to the similarity of cases, without any regard to the moral
iniputability, to the motives, and to the many important circum-
stances which may aggravate, mitigate, or annul a punishment,
could not be called a direct, just and reasonable one. — As we have
alluded to above, in speaking of the symptomatic treatment, the
greatest source of error in medical practice, which has hitherto ar-
rested its advancement, and will ever do so if not properly under-
stood, is, that the immediate consequences of two totally different
or even opposite modes of treatment in similar cases, are not only
sometimes alike, but even that the wrong one is often for sometime
after followed by an apparently brilliant success. This is one of the
principal reasons why, in all ages, many intelligent men have lost all
confidence in the medical profession ; that it has been, and still is, the
object of ridicule and contempt, and that physicians often leave the
choice of their treatment rather to mere chance, than to rational
inductions, after they have witnessed in large hospitals, as well as
in the lecture-rooms of celebrated professors, the most opposite
modes of treatment, equally recommended by each party, as the
only ones for a safe and quick cure. Thus any new or old sys-
tem or method of practice, invented or compounded by an adven-
turous professor, especially if supported by his learning, eloquence
and rank, frequently becomes fashionable among the profession,
and causing more or less injury to the public, offers to the druggist
a golden or an iron age.

Blest he ! who sees without surprise,
The various systems fall and rise,

As shifts the fickle gale ;
While all their utmost force exert
To wound the foe's unguarded part,

And all alike prevail. — Blacklock.

Should the success of a medical treatment really be the same,
whatever mode or fashion is adopted ; and should its provisions be

139

• <Uy so scanty as to leave this remarkable problem unsolved; ihen,
every honest man, who has devoted his life to medical practice
from humanity and scientific interest, deserves commiseration,
and those who have unfortunately chosen this mode of gaining
their living, are excusable for adopting any mode of practice, be it
even the innocent homoeopathic. But it is not so ; not only the
principles of rational medicine itself, but every well educated and
impartial practitioner, provided his practical career was long and
extensive enough for instituting minute philosophical observations,
can easily solve this problem, by properly explaining the great dif-
ferences, frequently obvious in the consequences of a direct or ra-
tional, and an indirect or merely symptomatical treatment, though
many favourable circumstances, not dependant on the control of
the physician, frequently frustrate the former, or compensate for
the bad consequences of the latter, and thus contribute to perpe-
tuate the errors and mistakes of the healing art. The profession
has hitherto noticed this great difference only in a few chronic
diseases, confirming the important truth, that by an improper
treatment the disease may be apparently cured, while it is mate-
rially increased, so as to reappear more destructive and incurable
after an indefinite length of time. Thus, for instance, if a consti-
tutional syphilitic ulcer be suddenly removed, merely by the ex-
ternal application of lead-water or some other astringent, (the
general course of ignorant quacks,) the experienced physician will
ascribe the subsequent eruption of constutional syphilis, with all
its horrid features, be it ever so long after the first attack, to the
previous ill-treatment ; or if an intermittent fever be removed by the
use of many ounces of powdered bark, or by arsenic, and after
some months or even years a dangerous liver complaint, colliquative
diarrhoea, dropsy, consumption, &c. follow, he will unquestionably
ascribe these diseases to the previous imprudent, method. But should
a patient, suffering from a severe attack of haemoptysis, or a si-
milar disease, be temporarily relieved by repeated large bleedings,
leeches, calomel, cathartics, &c, however little these were re-
quired, and however much a contrary mode of treatment was
necessary; and should he. after months or years, without any
remarkable cause, become affected by dropsy of the chest, pulmo-
nary consumption, or some other dangerous chronic disease, the
doctor will ascribe these calamities to some fictitious or real acci-
dent, rather (ban to his previous injudicious illtreatment ; nay!

140

.should he reflect upon the old disease and admit its influence in
the present hopeless case, he will rather reproach himself secretly
for not having sufficiently followed, in the former disease, the pre-
scriptions of modern practice, for not having bled, leeched, purged,
&c, enough to subdue the inflammation of the lungs, the heart, &c.
In large hospitals, as the patients are dismissed after their disease
has been temporarily removed in a similar inconsiderate manner,
and as on a renewed attack, they seldom return to the same insti-
tution and physician, the recurrence of the former disease, or of
another, is observed less frequently than in private practice ; and
in the annual hospital reports, hundreds are therefore numbered
among those radically cured, who afterwards died of a severe
relapse, or of another disease, or also continue to live in a feeble
state of health, frequently caused merely by neglect, or the strict
adherence to a fashionable treatment. Thus these public institu-
tions, which, by their many and prominent advantages over private
practice, could largely contribute to the improvement of medical
practice, are frequently the very hot-houses of a partial and rude
method, which becomes the fashion of the age, by the renown of
the celebrated professor and the many students attending the
eloquent lectures and the treatment of the hospital autocrat.

We have already tried to explain, that all organized life must
be considered as the product of two factors, and perfect or absolute
health as the harmonious and energetic reciprocal action of all the
integral parts of the living individual, &c. Under this ideal, which
seldom or perhaps never exists, are ranged all the various states,
which, more or less approaching it, are comprised under the con-
ceptions of relatively or tolerably good health. Both are founded
upon an equilibrium in the actions of the said parts, the latter,
however, with less intense vital energy (Wirkungsvermoegen,)
as originally communicated to every individual by his relatively
healthy parents and preserved by his prudent life. It is evident
that not only a great variety of equilibriums can exist, all of which
depend upon the proportionate quantity on both sides, and admit
a certain degree of vital energy, but also, that the lower degrees of
this vital energy cannot resist so effectually certain injurious
influences, which would not have affected persons enjoying
a higher degree of vital equilibrium with its more intensive
energy ; a state which is termed, general morbid disposition, (all-
gemeine Krankheits-anlage,) and generally arises after an indirect

141

treatment from a simultaneous latent and slumbering focus of
a morbid reaction. We may compare this with a pair of scales ;
but with this difference, that the scales will present the equilibrium
with or without any weight on them, but the vital equilibrium
must always contain a sufficient quantity of weight and its coun-
terbalance, to preserve the degree of vital energy, indispensable for
the proper resistance to external injuries, and for the continued
feelings of psychical and physical comfort. It is also evident that
though in weighing a precious substance, the disturbed equilibrium
may be restored in two modes, it is nevertheless highly important
to the owner, that it is done, not by taking off from this precious sub-
stance on the one side, but by adding, if possible, to the weight on
the other. In order to explain this important topic of an indirect
and direct treatment more clearly, let us imagine two poor men,
similar in age, health, and in all and every other respect. A
thousand dollars in small coin is given to both, provided they will
carry it home with them. The day is warm, and after they have
proceeded half-way, both drop down exhausted. Two spectators
now approach, anxious to give them aid : one, inconsiderately
takes off the load of money from one of them, while the other be-
nefactor judiciously tries to restore the second sufferer, merely by
food, drink, &c, and advises him to proceed on his way slowly.
An idle spectator, not knowing the particulars, will consider the
aid administered to the former much more effectual, when he per-
ceives him jumping up with ease, while the latter creeps home
slowly. The final result of this adventure is, that the one remains
poor, whilst the other becomes wealthy. We will now ask: whether
the indirect treatment of the former, though apparently direct,
was not irrational, in comparison with the direct, though seem-
ingly indirect treatment of the latter? In some situations both
might have needed the removal of the burthen, or the sacrifice of
the money, for the preservation of their lives, and then, of course, the
aid would have been direct in both ; but as the principal object
failed, it is only relatively direct, and no reasonable man would ad-
vocate this method, unless it was urgently required, or the absolute
direct aid, if possible, had first been tried. We do not assert that the
instance given is a direct parallel case, " omne simile claudicat/'
though it is not inferior to many similar popular explanations made
by Hahnemann. — It may, however, be obvious, that, for instance,
in many diseases producing a diminished vital reaction of the

142

'nervous system, and a simultaneously, but only relatively, increaseil
reaction of the sanguineous system, two modes of treatment are
possible ; one of which tends to restore indirectly the disturbed
equilibrium by diminishing the relative plethora or orgasmus of
the blood, and the other, the rational direct treatment, endeavours
to restore the impaired normal nervous reaction. The latter
is still more rational in regard to its later consequences, for if the
relatively increased quantity of blood is diminished, two defects are
substituted for one, viz : the totality of the individual vital energy
is reduced to a lower degree, and probably the original disproportion
will soon exist in a greater degree, by the loss of the living fluid
which contributes also so much to support the vital actions of the
nervous system. Mutatis mutandis, the same will be the case if o
predominant, cause excites the nervous system, especially in its
central parts, and where the vital reaction of the irritable or san-
guineous system is simultaneously, but likewise only relatively,
suppressed ; with this difference only, that, whereas rational me-
dicine admits the existence of no substance the primary effect of
which is directly anodyne, although its after-action may be so,
therefore also, in all cases where the primary exciting effect of ano-
dynes is to be apprehended, the reaction of the sanguineous system
must be reduced before they are applied. Farther,, as the nervous-
system, in this instance, like the vascular system in the first in-
stance, is the centre of a morbid excitement, it will draw for a
length of time the nourishment for its morbid reaction from the
blood, if this is not checked by judicious depletion. The strictest
antiphlogistic method must therefore be considered a direct treat-
ment, in all those cases, where over-excitement, a tendency to plastic
formations, &c, exists in both these principal systems of the human
body; and many cases also happen, which are so very urgent as not
to allow time for direct interference, but only for indirect treatment.
It is also true, that even if no imminent danger exists, the particu-
lar form of a disease sometimes does not admit the direct treatment,
uniil such a form is changed by an indirect one into another form,
known by experience to be a more accessible or tractable one ;
though these cases are less frequent than many physicians believe.
We mention these brief outlines of a rational, physiological medicine,
merely to enable the general reader to explain for himself, why of
two opposite modes of medical treatment, the wrong one may suc-
ceed, from circumstances beyond the control of the physician, or,

143

as is generally ihe case, appears only to have succeeded in its im-
mediate consequences, until when after the lapse of some time the
patient becomes undeceived. The reader also may judge for him-
self, whether such shallow reasoning as homceopathia generally,
and particularly its maxim, similia similibus curantur, presents, can
ever be the leading principle of an art, which justly claims to rest
on the minutest philosophical researches, and on the most unpre-
judiced and faithful experiences.

Though, with respect to the profession at large there is, as we
have seen, some truth in Hahnemann's assertion, that no sound
conception of the mode in which medicines operate has hitherto
existed, still this is by no means applicable to those distinguished
physicians of all ages, who have proved by their practice and
writings, that they could well account for their rational directions,
and that true talents will always elevate men above the standard of
their profession, and free them from the fetters of confining tenets.
Hahnemann justly censures also in his works, that in the text-
books on practical medicine, drugs which produce a totally different
and often an opposite effect, are recommended by the highest au-
thorities for one and the same disease; and vice versa, that one and
the same drug is recommended, in the text-books on Materia Medica,
for different and even opposite maladies. But the conclusions which
he draws from these facts in favor of his doctrine are false, and the
contrary of his assertions will be evidently as true, by proving, as
we have attempted, the facts quoted, to arise from the want or
disregard of general principles, and from overvaluing the similarity
of symptoms which frequently depend on very different or even
opposite causes. This however does not imply the indirect admission
of the false conception, that one cause must always have different
effects, and vice versa; but all causes of diseases being a compound
of the vital reaction and the external agents, the immensely mul-
tiplied reactions of all parts constituting the organized living body,
varied also in every individual, and by the innumerable circum-
stances under which he at any moment exists, our senses cannot
observe minutely and distinguish the immense variety of the effects
and all their deeper or lighter shades, and that therefore, the
identity or mere similarity which experience presents to us, must
be exceedingly delusive, unless we refer chiefly to the more or less
prominent causes. It is evident also that, as Hahnemann solely
refers to the similarity between the symptoms of the drug-sickness

144

and those of the natural disease, and makes the treatment of all

diseases to depend on this similarity ; he believes either that an
ounce of bark or an atom of arsenic, &c, is equivalent to all the
influences which procreate the natural diseases, where the virtues of
bark, arsenic, &c, are remedies, or admits that similar effects may
arise from two causes quite dissimilar, and widely different in their
power.

Hahnemann's repeated reproaches against the profession for im-
itating the salutary proceedings of nature in curing diseases, are
worthy of his foolish conceptions of the vital powers of nature,
already frequently quoted. Though we are far from invoking the
vis medicatrix naturae, or the healing power of nature, according to
the present mode of many, as a deus ex machina, in cases of neces-
sity,* still we would wish that his reproaches were true, and that
physicians were really guilty of minutely listening to the operations
of nature, in order to learn, by what simple means and processes she
attains great ends; and how, when left undisturbed, she frequently
cures diseases, which would never have prevailed so extensively, if
mankind had never strayed from her simple and true dictates.
Hahnemann was well aware, that all his whimsical suggestions in
regard to the developed virtues of drug-atoms, would not be adopted
for a moment, unless he boldly claimed for them an always abso-
lute and unconditional power, and no one but he could deny, that

* Putting out of view all teleological and metaphysical reflections about the end
and object of the existence of mortal beings, which we devotedly believe to be the
greatest happiness imaginable of every individual; the tendency of nature appears, to
the naturalist and physician, directed to the preservation of the whole species of living
beings, rather than to that of its individuals. Always acting on fixed, eternal laws,
nature will contribute to the destruction of one individual as well as to the preserva-
tion of another, leaving to the human intellect one of its principal antitheses of re-
flection, viz. Providence and absolute necessity. — The life of the tender foetus is
protected in the same moment and by the same law of nature by which another
individual perishes ; and the decrepid old man, tired of his long career, is reserved
from imminent danger by the same operation of nature, as that by which the youth
fades prematurely away, in the prime of his cheerful life, by an inflammation of the
heart, consumption, etc. The same electricity, bursting forth in a thunder-storm
kills and calls into existence thousands of beings at the same moment.

" Res quasquc suo ritu procedit, et omnes

" Fcedere naturag certo discrimine servant." Lucr.

We are therefore not justified in terming the same power either healino- or destroy-
ing, though the physician should generally attend rather to the destructive than to the
healing power of nature ; since the former prevails more prominently in all diseases
than the latter, which, in its integrity, would, violent assaults excepted, never be
obliged to cure a disease, because it would always prevent it. This however should
never exempt him from minutely observing, when the healing direction of nature is to
be supported only by a cautious active treatment, or as generally might then be more
advisable, by, the removal of all interference of the art.

145

those are the most blessed priests of tlie healing art, who devotedly
obey the voice of nature and her laws, lint Hahnemann's re-
proaches in regard to the treatment hitherto pursued by the mass of
the profession, are but too true, if we regard only the facts, leaving
his explanations unnoticed. The history of medicine teaches that
the profession has either been in favor of locating the proximate
cause of all diseases in some one of the three principal systems of the
human body, viz. the sensitive, irritable and reproductive, or of
adopting merely local derangements. But few distinguished men
followed the example of a Sydenham, Fried. Hoffman, Ernst
Stahl, &c, in being mindful that nature, throughout her vast
empire, presents in her admirable simplicity the greatest varieties
and modifications of one and the same power, that the greatest
functional changes are frequently produced by the slightest shades
in the formation of the individual parts, and that the results of our
directions will prove auspicious in the same proportion as we apply
general principles to individual cases. By neglecting this philoso-
phical scrutiny and ratiocination, indispensable to the promotion ol
the rational healing art, it remained for ages a more or less station-
ary empiricism, varying only in this, that when a sufficient number
had fallen victims to one method, another was adopted, and carried
again to the utmost extreme like the former, until the cycle of the
different modes at the disposal of the profession had been completed,
and one of the old irrational modes of treatment was recom-
menced.

Thus we have seen, in our times, patients of Brownists die apo-
pletic, evidently in consequence of large doses of stimulants, while
the doctor regretted that the premature death of his patient, which
of course was considered accidental, did not allow him time for the
application of still more powerful stimulants. AVe have seen anti-
phlogists repeatedly bleed their patients as long as blood would
ilow from the vein, and then death, visibly promoted by inanition
and exhaustion, was attributed to the feverish excitement, which in
the doctor's opinion was not enough abated, or to the imaginary
violent inflammation, which was not sufficiently checked by the
lancet, leeches, cupping, &c.; he would have wished to revive the
patient only to renew the exhibition of his professional consistency.
Who could feel happier, who more satisfied with the correct acute-
nesa of his diagnosis, when even the post, mortem examination pal-
pably showed inflammation or one of its common issues/ That

19

146

these corpora delicti might have been produced by such a nonsensical

mode of treatment, remained entirely out of the question. We
have seen gastricists torment their patients with emetics, cathartics,
calomel, salts, &c., until they expired, and then the intelligent
doctor, in addition to the many bilious evacuations during lifetime,
almost always in such cases the artificial product of the illtreat-
ment, still referred to the thick yellowish coat on the tongue, to the
yellow hue of the corpse, (fee, as mathematical proofs to him, that
death only ensued because the patient had not been seen sufficiently
early, or had not lived long enough, to swallow still larger doses of
calomel, jalap, castor oil, (fee.

Some think themselves acting very prudently, if ignorant of the
philosophical principles of the healing art, they try two opposite
methods in succession, falsely imagining that they can by such a
double rude empiricism best attain the desired end; if, for instance,
during an acute fever, the doctor is unsuccessful in subduing the
excitement by all the means of his antiphlogistic armory, he turns
to the other extreme, and fancying to revive the prostrated vital
forces, prescribes strong infusions of valerian, decoctions of bark,
ether, opium, cordials, &c. If the patient grows worse and dies,
the doctor will be satisfied, having offered to the patient, in his opin-
ion the best chance to escape from death, by opening for him the
two great highways of the profession for the salvation of their
patients ; if he fortunately recovers, the brilliant success will be
ascribed to the method now best liked by the physician; the next
patient will have to suffer by this method, and may not be lucky
enough to escape.

Some excuse their transition from one extreme to the other, by
pretending that the character of all diseases becomes altered by
atmospheric or telluric changes, every ten or more years. Who
would not admit the existence of atmospheric influences, as seen in
epidemics, (fee? but these great changes have by no means been
contemporaneously ascertained by meteorological observations, nor
confirmed by those physicians, who have practised under the same
external conditions, and have remained faithful to their principles.

All these doctors considered their method to be the best, all ridi-
culed and pitied their opponents, because, in spite of their murderous
empiricism, some of their patients either recovered by their athletic
constitution, aided by occurrences fortunately beyond the control
of the doctor, or seemed at least to be radically cured, until after

147

some time a serious relapse or another dangerous disease followed.
ii. is very natural that in many cases in which a disease threatened
to be long and dangerous, and was checked in the beginning by
the judicious exertions of the physicians, his skilful prevention
remains unnoticed by the patient and his relatives, who, in conse-
quence of this easy and sudden recovery, could not be aware of the
danger from which the patient had escaped; and in fact an unpro-
fessional men would require a very minute knowledge of the healing
art, in which many doctors even are deficient, to be able to value
such a case properly. The same may generally be expected, when
by the prophylactic care of the judicious family physician, the
members of a family enjoy for many years excellent health,
when compared with other families, where the doctor has frequent
opportunity for brilliant cures. It is indeed difficult to explain
why, in medical practice, the talents of the physician and the su-
periority of his method are generally appreciated in direct proportion
to the length and difficulty of the recovery, and why a patient whose
good luck alone may have saved him from death, is often regarded as
a splendid specimen of professional talent and care, when creeping
about for months on crutches like a shadow. And much less ex-
plainable must it appear, that people still possess any confidence in
the medical profession, when they observe the application of one and
the same treatment under circumstances which they themselves
must consider widely different. If for instance a man falls down
asphyctic, whether in the severest cold of winter or in the extreme
heat of summer, whether he is apparently starved or has indulged
too much in food or drink, whether he appears to have previously
enjoyed good health, or has been rather reduced, &c, he must be
bled, and afterwards take, if possible, an emetic, &c. No one reason-
ably conjectures that, although by these means he may be revived
for a short, time, the vital powers may become soon extinguished,
when they might have been restored by an opposite mode.

The manner hitherto pursued, in order to ascertain the effect of
medicines, was and is still very defective, and has led to almost the
same errors as those caused by Hahnemann's suggestions about
the effect of simple drugs; both believing definite drugs or medi-
cines especially adapted to definite symptoms; allopathia however is
less defective, because its maxim, contraria contrariis, is far more
accordant with nature than that of homceopathia, though we must
add, with regret but with justice, that the former, in its practical mis-

148

application, has hum i to generally proved to be much more obnoxious

than the latter ever will be, when faithfully pursued, if we may
ascribe a positive preference to anything of merely negative worth.

We venture to say that the text-books on Materia Medica have
done more injury than good to the promotion of rational medicine,
by denning the positive action of drugs. It will always be so, be-
cause no systematical classification, no plan whatever adopted for
a Materia Medica, can answer the requisites of rational medicine.
The natural history of the different drugs and their chemical qualities
excepted, which may be easily combined with botany, chemistry,
&c, this doctrine should cease to exist separately, and the sub-
stance of it should be combined with general therapeutics, this
philosophy of all practical medicine, so much neglected in the
course of professional study ; and for the same reason general
therapeutics should also take the place of special therapeutics, the
substance of which could be left with much greater advantage to
special pathology and clinical courses. The mistakes of Materia
Medica in defining absolute medical properties of drugs, and the ease
of applying them as specifics, have promoted a rude empiricism, and
these may be considered the causes, why the benefits which practical
medicine has hitherto derived from modern chemistry, consist
almost solely in a large addition to the already superabundant
stock of powerful drugs, which instead of being a blessing to man-
kind, have frequently been in the hands of the rude empiric only
so many more instruments of injury. — " Subjectum istud medicinae
" (corpus nimirum humanum) ex omnibus, quae natura procreavit
" maxime est capax remedii ; sed vicissim illud remedium maxime
" est obnoxium errori." — (Fr. Bacon.)

We have seen already, and shall explain more fully the manner
in which Hahnemann has treated these subjects, and how little the
profession can trust to the results of his experiments and to his
suggestions. Should we credit some few trustworthy men among
his followers, we would be indebted to homceopathia for the know-
ledge of some substances, now applicable to different topical dis-
eases, which have hitherto been considered as acting only on whole
systems of the human body. It however shows gross ignorance
and assumption, for the author of the " Concise View" and his
brethren to assert, that Hahnemann introduced as specifics into the
Materia Medica, such drugs as Digitalis, Pulsatilla, Belladonna, &c.

In the same manner as Mercury was known, long before his

149

time, to act prominently on the lymphatic system, so we were ac-
quainted with the effect of Digitalis upon the heart and the arte-
ries, of opium and similar narcotics upon the nervous, of Belladonna
upon the nervo-muscular irritability, etc. Could we, however,
rely more confidently upon his experience at the bed-side of the
patient, we should owe to him the beneficial effects of Aconitum in
the genuine or plastic inflammation of the lungs, of Spongia in a
similar affection of the mucous membranes and of the glands of the
throat, of Pulsatilla, erroneously considered by the profession as
obsolete, for some particular nervous affections of the eyes, etc. etc.
all of which exert not only a beneficial influence upon the morbid
disorders of a whole system, but act also specially upon the tissues
of different organs. But from the following statement, which repre-
sents the manner in which he instituted his experiments with drugs,
from those remarks which we shall give at the discussion of the
3d maxim, and from what we already know of his false statements
about Belladonna in scarlet fever, about Camphor and Copper in
Asiatic cholera, etc. we are sorry that we have only to record his
failures, his fancies, and his rude empiricism.*

* Since these remarks were written, we have seen an article in the New- York Com-
mercial Advertiser of the 7th of February, 1834, addressed " to Parents," and signed
" a Citizen." It appears that this citizen had lost some children by scarlet fever,
under the medical treatment of an allopathist; and believing that he himself after-
ward had an attack of the same disease, and was saved by the homoeopathic treat-
ment with Belladonna, he thought it his duty to direct public attention to the " igno-
rance and obstinacy of the profession" generally, and to the great blessings which
homoeopathia secures to mankind, and especially to those attacked by scarlet fever.

In whatever manner the feelings of a well educated unprofessional person may have
been affected, both by extraordinary misfortune and by gratitude to the man to whom
he thinks himself indebted for relief ; it is utterly inconsistent with common sense as
well as with moral and delicate feeling, to publish such a remarkably frantic and ma-
licious article. We should have believed it impossible for any citizen of this country,
unless he belonged to the lowest class of quacks, to disregard not only all the deco-
rum due to the highly respected class of physicians, but to injure, in such a foolish and
contemptible manner, the: just feelings of those of his fellow citizens, who have been
or may be so unfortunate as to lose their children or relatives by the same scourge ;
asserting, with the utmost and almost mathematical precision, that his own direful
afflictions, and those of others also, would have been prevented by the homoeopathic
treatment with Belladonna. We venture to express and to vindicate the good sense
and just indignation of an enlightened and abused community, in declaring, that we
have never read any publication more unbecoming and false than this Address to Pa-
rents. It seems as if a red-hot homoeopathist had made a tool of this infatuated
citizen, and profited also by this opportunity, to direct public attention to his marvel-
lous all-curing method, without the least regard to truth, to the respect due to the pub-
lic at large, and to the profession in particular. We shall say nothing of the citizen's
own fate, and also nothing about his brief biography of Hahnemann, as we have
given above a different but true statement of it. It must, however, appear very un-
fair and inconsistent, that the gentlemen homoeopathists of this country, who, like their
master and brethren in Europe, despise the most trust-worthy literary authorities
of all ages, and the experience of the greatest practitioners, hail, from ignorance or
intentionally, each adventurer who enters their ranks, and take advantage of the ig-

150

As it is material to any one who finds particular interest in the
results of physical experiments, to know in what manner they are
instituted, and as it must be our principal object, to provide the

norance of the public respecting foreign medical literature, to represent men as highly
distinguished physicians and authors, who are in both respects as insignificant and un-
known in their respective countries as they themselves are in this. In regard to the
German, French, and Italian doctors, who have adopted homeeopathia, and whose names
are quoted by "the citizen," as the first in the profession ; we repeat our former re-
mark, that they are quite obscure mm. Hufeland excepted, not one of them, has any
pretensions to medical talent, or is distinguished or even known in the medical litera-
ture of his own country, except, at farthest, as being a practitioner or author on homceo-
pathia. Hufeland, who never was considered in Germany as " the patriarch of German
medicine," but who was merely and still is highly respected as a distinguished author
and physician, neither claimed to be, nor ever was admitted as the "leader" of the
profession there. Impartial to every medical system, and upwards of 40 years editor
of a valuable medical periodical, Hufeland was always more tolerant to the absurdest
suggestions than a truly ingenuous man and a zealous lover of truth ought to have been.
He has nevertheless never decla our of homceopathia: on the contrary, like

all the public professors of medicine and surgery at Berlin, and in all other German
universities, a few insignificant men excepted, he has only recommended that some of
the topics of homceopathia, in regard to the maxim, " similia similibus curantur,"
might deserve a closer examination, since it appears to him possible, that in this way
also, the profession could obtain some beneficial results, and that perhaps many dis-
cordant opinions could be reconciled by it. (See Hufeland, die Lehre von den Hei-
lungs-objecten und ihrer Erkenntniss, oder die Jatrognomik. Ein Versuch zur Ver-
einigung der Aerzte, Berlin, 1829.) Hahnemann's "great truth," contained in his
work on chronic diseases, was at that time not yet known to Hufeland, otherwise he
probably would have given a less liberal opinion of Hahnemannism. AVe can as-
sure our readers, that most of the German physicians, who felt, like ourselves, in
duty bound repeatedly to try belladonna as a preventive against scarlet fever, because
it could not do harm, even in the dose first prescribed by Hahnemann, (which is many
hundred million times larger or smaller than the dose he now believes to be too strong
or too weak) have declared this drug ineffectual as a preventive and still more so as a
remedy. The scarlet fever still prevails in Germany, as can be ascertained from the
latest (rerman medical works and periodicals ; and perhaps likewise from those causes
to which we have alluded in our remarks upon the dangers of vaccination, with
greater violence than it diil before Hahnemann's insignificant discovery. Dr. Kopp also,
who, as we have mentioned above, is the only German hornrEpathist,ifvve dare call him
so, who has been distinguished as an author and practitioner before he examined this
method, states, in regard to the use of Belladonna in scarlet fever, (on p. 326 of his
work above cited,) "According to my frequent experiments I must declare it to be a
" very unsafe preventive, and by no means comparable with vaccination," as Hah-
nemann would make all the world believe, especially at that time, when he intended
to make a fortune, by using Belladonna as an arcanum. Those German physicians
who have employed belladonna as a preventive, have not used it as a remedy for scarlet
lever, sinceHahnemann himself has recommended tins drug at first, merely as a pre-
ventive of this disease and not as a remedy for it : and in later times, when he recom-
mended it also as a remedy, he made it to depend on a very minute distinction
between the scarlatina levigata and miliaris, which docs not essentially exist. —
No professional man of a but limited practice will acknowledge any material difference,
simply between these two forms of scarlet fever; and this may also serve as a proof that
Hahnemann was never engaged in any extensive practice, but has formed his concep-
tions by hunting for antiquated literary curiosities and by his own inventions. We
would suggest that both forms of the same disease, with all its symptoms, dangers, etc.
(although the miliaris is in the first stage less dangerous than the levigata,) appear
to depend on a higher or lower degree of atmospheric electricity ; as the damp at-
mosphere in northern Germany is less electric than the atmosphere in the northern
states of America, the miliaris is more frequent there, while the levigata is more usual
here: in very cold and dry winters, however, we frequently met with the levigata in
iv. Perhaps both forms depend only on the predominant positive or negative
atmospheric electricity, producing an. effect upon the human body, distantly similar to
Lichtenberg's figures of both electricities — It is very singular that homoeopath-

151

impartial reader of these pages with all the means necessary to
judge for himself, what confidence might be reasonably placed in
the correctness of Hahnemann's experiments, and still more in all

ists speak at all of scarlet fever, since, as we have seen, Hahnemann forbids them to
give a name to a disease which is similar to one of the older schools ; and consistent-
ly, instead of scarlatina levigata, and purpura miliaria, they should speak only of an
aconite and a belladonna-sickness.— Dr. Kopp, the infatuated admirer of Hahnemann's
genius, who has used Belladonna in scarlet fever, says, on page 327. 1. c. where lie
ridicules Hahnemann's fanciful distinction just mentioned: — "I frequently treated
'• patients suffering from scarlatina according to the homoeopathic method, with bella-
" donna, mercury, etc. and in general I have not noticed unfavourable results. Severe
" cases, and those which were dangerous, have not been arrested by it, and required
" chlorine in large doses, cold fomentations to the head, sinapisms, etc." — Future
times will prove still more, that the cure of scarlet fever depends upon a minute ra-
tional treatment, and upon a regime different from that still pursued in many coun-
tries by highly obnoxious popular prejudices, rather than upon any specific, and least
of all, upon an infinite atom of belladonna ; though this powerful drug, like all others,
may prove beneficial in the rational treatment of scarlet fever, under peculiar circum-
stances, which prescribe the most rigorous antiphlogistic as well as the quite opposite
treatment, particularly in its different stages. — The well known experiments on which
this accidental discovery of Hahnemann rests, deserve particular notice, in proving
his inability to institute minute and impartial experiments, and much less to draw
sound conclusions from them. The berries of belladonna are by no means the only
substance which produces in healthy persons an eruption on the skin, very remotely
similar to scarlet fever; many other narcotic plants, especially if taken in quantities
sufficiently large to act as poisons, frequently cause the same : thus we remember a
similar eruption inawhole family, poisoned by thorn-apple seeds boiled in milk, instead
of the seeds of the fennel-flower, (Nigella sativa, L.) which were intended as a domestic
medicine. We remember also, thirty-five years ago, a remarkable instance of a stout
man, upwards of seventy years old, in whom, after taking two drops of laudanum for
diarrhoea, an eruption appeared, similar to scarlatina levigata, only without fever, but
ending, like scarlet fever, with the desiccation of the skm : and two years after, the
same consequences followed, in the same man. from one drop of laudanum only. It
is also well known, that some persons and whole families, at least in Germany, expe-
rience the same symptoms whenever they eat craw-lish or clams, and sometimes even
on taking the prepared crabs-eyes, which are used as a domestic diaphoretic and anti-
acid medicine. Must these and many other substances, therefore, not likewise he
consistently considered as remedies for the smooth scarlet fever '! How great is,
moreover, often the difference between the fruit of a plant and its root, leaves, or
other parts! the one may act in one way, the other in a different manner on the hu-
man body. De Candolle (Organographie vegetale, vol. II.) states, that in every plant,
the most poisonous not excepted, the endospermium and cotyledones contain no poi-
son, but always a farinaceous substance, which may serve as wholesome nourish-
ment for men and animals. Was Hahnemann consistent in prescribing only the ber-
ries of belladonna, or their juice, against scarlet fever 1 No ! On page 11 of vol I.
of his Materia Medica, he orders expressly the juice of the whole plant to be taken
while it is in blossom ; of course then without the berries, the very object of his first
discovery. This is objectionable only in respect to homoeopathia, which boasts of
such great regard to trifles and minutiae, since the medical virtues are contained in
the herb and in the root of belladonna much more than in its berries. The root
being by far the strongest, Hahnemann, in prescribing the many billionth part of one
grain, appears, therefore, as usual, particularly inconsistent in prescribing to take the
whole plant without the berries.— We regret particularly, that a public paper with so
large a circulation, has consented to become the inhuman instrument for spreading
a collection of statements so alarming, so void of truth, and so redolent with charla-
tanism, without such previous inquiries as we think due to the public in such cases.
In fact, the impudent advertisement of a quack, persuading the public that he alom
can cure all patients easily and quickly of a disease wdiich has so frequently proved
fatal under the most judicious treatment of the greatest physicians of all countries
and ages, supporting his infallible cures, of course, by a sufficient number of public tes-
timonials, must appear contemptible ; how much more so when men abuse, under the
hypocritical cloak of patriotism and modest professional philanthropy, the ignorance and

152

the inferences drawn from them by him and his followers, we shall
give an instance of his original experiments with drugs, instituted
in healthy persons in order to produce a drug-sickness.

We purposely select the experiments made with Peruvian
bark, as a drug best known. (See according to Kopp 1. c. p. 55,
Organon §. §. 16 and 132 of the third, and § 120 of the fourth
edition.) In order to excite a bark-fever, which may last for seve-
ral days, the healthy person must take, in the course of one day, a
mixture made of one ounce of powdered bark, with five ounces of
alcohol and two pounds of water. This will be taken best before
breakfast, and according to circumstances, this do?e may be in-
creased to twice, (§ 133 old edition,) or even four times as much,
(§ 134 ibid.) Now we candidly ask, who can wonder that from
experiments, instituted principally in this manner, only 1 143 bark-
symptoms are recorded in Hahnemann's materia medica, as we
might confidently expect several thousand symptoms in addition
to those mentioned, if all are minuiely written down from the re-
ports of a healthy person, unaccustomed to such stimuli, and in-
toxicated for many hours by twenty ounces of alcohol and four
ounces of powdered bark ; especially if this person was such a
stupid, credulous and infatuated disciple, as the above mentioned
Bohemian barber, or any one else, prepossessed and anxious to
satisfy the tiresome cross-examinations and the absurd expectations
of such a master? Our " great medical genius," who, according
to the enraptured Dr. Hering, (1. c. p. 11) " now stands forth as
" a conqueror" who, (I. c. p. 27) " has beaten a new path on all
" sides ;" and (1. c. p. 21) by " whose careful attention to minutice

folly of a distressed, infatuated man, and induce him publicly to say, exactly in the
following terms, that " Samuel Hahnemann has swept away from medicine, as Isaac
" Newton did from Astronomy, the huge mass of intellectual lumber that had clogged
" it for centuries ;"that " belladonna was, when administered according to the direc-
" tion of its discoverer, a cert-iin established sovereign cure for the scarlet fever :" —
that " it has been in general use, as such, on the continent of Europe since 1811 :"
— that " scarlet fever has ceased to be an object of terror in these countries ;" and
that " in the present state of medical science, every victim bv scarlet fever was a wan-
ton sacrifice of human life to medical obstinacy, or to involuntary medical ignorance.'
We wish from our heart, that all patients suffering from this dangerous disease may
recover by belladonna, or by any other treatment. But what can such an impostor
or infatuated simpleton, who palpably guided the pen of this "citizen," say for his de-
fence, if, in spite of such impudence, he himself loses even his near relatives by
scarlet fever when hoimropatliicaliy treated 1 — " Where authority is from one man to
<• another, there the second must be ignorant and not learned and full of thoughts;
" and such are, for the most part, all superstitious persons, whose belief, tied to their
" teachers and traditions, are no whit controlled, either by reason or experience." —

Fr. Bdcon.

i5;i

" a new era has dawned upon all the natural sciences," this very
man, who considers the decillionth part of one grain oj common
table salt in many cases as too strong, is pleased to call twenty
" ounces of alcohol, and four ounces of powdered bark, swallowed
" in a few hours, and even before breakfast" as a mere nothing-, and
instead of calling the 1 1 43 symptoms elicited by the cross-exami-
nation of such a person by their right name, the utterings of an
intoxicated person, he is pleased to call them " bark-fever syrnp-
" toms," — "Dialectorum verba nulla sunt publica, suis utuntur,"
(Cicero.) — Hahnemann, who recommends for his homoeopathic so-
lutions, (see Organon § 267, and Chronic Diseases,) alcohol
strong enough to ignite a piece of spunk, (which can be done
only by the strongest alcohol), considers this substance as utterly
indifferent, and as the least apt to change the qualities of simple
drugs. This opinion, the experiments similar to those just quoted,
connected with his suggestion above cited, viz. that persons become
less liable to diseases in proportion to the number of different ho-
moeopathic trials made on them with simple drugs, and his theory
that all chronic diseases depend mostly on itch — all these state-
ments and assertions together may justify our inference, that ac-
cording to the tenets of homceopathia, a person might constantly
indulge in drinking brandy, or any other spirituous drink, without
the least injury to his health. This contradicts the remark of Dr.
Hering, who says on page 26 of his " Concise View," " Hahne-
" matin considers all spirituous drinks as positively injurious," and
demonstrates still more clearly his attempts to render thereby also
his " new art of healing" as palatable as possible to the enlightened
people of this country, by yielding in this manner to the prejudices
of the temperance-or rather abstinence-societies, although these at-
tempts are not required by his doctrine.* As a faithful homoeopa-

* No one will consider us adverse to any measures for promoting temperance,
though we are not in favour of total abstinence, and cannot see the propriety of |uin-
ing a society as a particular inducement or obligation to live temperately, any more
than to join other societies for exercising other virtues, which we are bound to observe
from religious and moral feelings and principles. Intemperance in spirituous drinks
is very detrimental both in a moral and physical point of view, and its bad consequences
are generally irreparable. Those who are still doubtful of the correctness of I his ;i>scr-
tion, should seriously direct their attention to the seven- lesson, which the wisdom of
Providence has given them by the Asiatic cholera, since in all countries and under the
most different medical treatments, very few intemperate individuals were cured. Imem-
perate persons also by the habitual over-excitement of their nervous system are not
only unable to bear the higher degrees of heat and cold as well as temperate ones,
but there exists to our knowledge, no instance where asphyctics by < old. when intoxi-
cated, have been restated to life, whilst the contrary has often been the case with

20

151

thist, uninfluenced by oilier motives, he must have been aware, that
unless a man feels religious and moral obligations to live temperate-
ly, as every prudent man should do, the principal checks are remov-
ed rather than increased by Hahnemann. Should any one believe
our interpretation incorrect and partial, he may consider how
often Dr. Hering and his homoeopathic brethren assure the public
of 'the infallibility of homceopathia, that he says on p. 25, a false
selection of a drug cannot do injury; (on p. 21,) that error isimpos-
sible, etc.; and the same assurances are still more given by Hahne-
mann, for instance, in vol. iv, p. 19 of his Mat. Med. second edi-
tion, where he says, that all experience will prove to every body,
that a drug selected according to his manner, " will not only
" change the disease into health easily and durably, but it will
" never leave any one uncuredf and in vol. iii,p. 7 of the same work,
" If all that the honmopathic doctrine promises, provided itisfaith-
" fully pursued, does not exactly take place — then homceopathia is
" considered to be lost." — If therefore, our interpretations in re-
gard to all other assertions and directions of Hahnemann cannot
be considered exaggerated, a man prone to intemperance, can now
confidently expect that, if after all he should fall sick in conse-
quence of this vice, he will be cured safely and quickly by the
virtue developed from a few atoms of a drug.

With due reverence for the great effect of religious and moral
principles, in preventing moral faults simply by their great intrinsic
value, we must admit, that hitherto Providence lias ordained
both moral and physical happiness to be generally the rewards of a
pious and virtuous life, while vices cause much physical unhappi-
ness, sufferings and misery, and that this merciful order of things
has unquestionably hitherto deterred many from evil habits, and
especially from the source of all vices, intemperance. Should
homceopathia, always so superior to the stupid and miserable vital
powers of nature, shake in this case also, the belief and coniidence
of many, in the old order of things, it would become at least indi-
directly instrumental in promoting intemperance and all other

temperate individuals, after apparent death had lasted for upwards of three days. For
the same reasons professional men will find it by far more difficult, to restore men, given
to drunkenness, to their health when affected by diseases, than men of sober habits.
The alcohol of all spirituous drinks, entering when used in excess into the mixture of
the blood, into the brain, muscles, etc., is also the only cause of the many shocking
instances of self-combustion. Intemperance is a vice peculiar to man, winch deprives
him, by his own voluntary act, of his noblest prerogati . it is therefore in itself

the worst and most contemptible kind of suicide, to which it so often indirectly leads.

155

vices. Hahnemann and his adherents have much to answer for, as
they encourage this great evil. — We cannot well boast of our great
predilection for this Abracadabra of the nineleeth century, nor do we
like to display our philanthropy. But, nevertheless, it, may easily
be imagined what grief we felt that such " a treasure," like this
" new art of healing," by which, according to the hopes and ex-
pectations of Dr. Hering, (p. 29, 1. c). •' future generations will be
" rescued from its leaden fetters, the bitterest human misery —
'• disease bearing down all earthly joy. become less from year to
" year, and'the sweetest boon on earth — health and domestic feli-
" city become the portion of growing thousands here as well as in
" Germany," should not be able to compensate in a manner fully
worthy of its exalted destiny, for the great injuries and inconveni-
ences, just named, of which it is the innocent cause. We feel
happy to state, that we have hit upon such a compensation, and
we hope that it will not be amiss to suggest here to the " great
" benefactor of mankind," and to his followers, apian by which
they can nobly and munificently atone for this evil attending their
doctrine if generally adopted, and which plan is also intimately
connected with their maxim, " similia similibus curantur."

The political emancipation of the coloured population, now agi-
tating the whole civilized world, is the very field assigned to Hah-
nemann and his benevolent doctrine. The celebrated naturalist,
professor Link, of the Berlin University, in bis interesting work,
" the Primitive World," (die Urwelt), considers the African as the
original race of mankind, and all other men, especially the whites,
as a variety of the negro, physically degenerated by one or more
unknown causes ; perhaps by a constitutional affection, which once
generally prevailed; resembling to that, by which the Leukaethiopes
or Albinos become so anomalous from the whites. We do not.
exactly recollect by what reasons and deep learning he supports
this strange opinion, though it might be noticeed, that coloured men
grow much lighter when sick, and also that many instances are
recorded, where white persons have become permanently black,
without any material injury to their health, after a violent fit
of anger, fright, or a similar mental excitement. It is also well
known that by the influence of northern climates, many animals,
coated with a dark skin in southern countries, turn white, without
any other observable anomaly. Be this as it, may, those who
consider this metamorphosis of the human race to be as fanciful as

150

are all the arguments of (lie learned naturalist, on account of the
great difference in the mental capacities between the white and the
negros, as stated by many, may perhaps become more convinced of
this important hypothesis, if theybelieve Hahnemann's "great truth,"
about the antiquity of the far-spread itch, and especially if they
advert to the fact, that the mental capacities of individuals have
frequently improved after recovering from a serious constitutional
disease. Now it is also a fact, that lunar caustic or nitras argenti, if
taken by whites, even in small allopathic doses, will cause a perma-
nently blackish hue over the whole skin, without any particular
danger. In accordance with the homoeopathic maxim, similia si-
milibus curantur, we therefore should not doubt for a moment
that, if a black individual takes a homoeopathic dose of lunar caus-
tic, it might change the black skin white, as well as it turns the
white skin black. Should this experiment succeed, as it probably
will, (though it has, to our knowledge, not yet been tried), since the
conformity of homceopathia with the laws of nature is established,
it will be highly advantageous to the coloured population, especially
in countries where they now live politically emancipated amongst
whites, and since, probably, no law will for centuries be effectual
enough to extinguish opinions and prejudices, as we may term such
deeprootcd impressions, so long as they are entertained by visible
physicalmarks; and as reciprocally , every disadvantageousdistinction
will perpetuate the moral faults which naturally originate from such
prejudices, unworthy of all truly religious and moral feeling. Every
body must admit this to be extremely deserving of the noble-
minded homceopathist ; though, under the supposition that this
will be effected solely by a slightly artificial disease, they woidd be
obliged, from humanity, to deviate, in these cases only, from their
usual benevolent mode of transmuting all diseases into health.
Hahnemann, who was probably himself not aware that his great
discoveries would likewise benefit so large a number of healthy
human being;*, over such large sections of the globe, has incon-
sciously removed the great obstacle to its success, and confirmed
by this also, what Dr. Hering emphatically predicted, when saying,
on page 27, " Thus has Hahnemann beaten a new path on all
" sides. His admirable observations and manifold experience have
" constantly advanced the new art, created by his instrumentality,
" and every year brings with it fresh proofs of his genius." The
only serious objection to this unique salutary morbid process

157

is this ; that as lunar caustic is a remedy for epilepsy, or the
falling sickness, it might produce this direful disease in the white-
washed negro. Hahnemann removes this fear, by suggesting in
his Materia Medica, Vol. IV., that the beneficial effects of lunar
caustic in epilepsy, depend not upon the silver, but the copper
contained in it, and therefore declares that copper and not silver
is the real homoeopathic drug in epilepsia. Though he made, as
we have seen a similar declaration with regard to Asiatic chole-
ra, in his second edition for its infallible cure, namely, to cajeput-
oil ; and although no " over-refined 1 ' chemist can conceive what
copper has to do with pure lunar caustic, the faithful homoeopathists
will, however, not doubt it. They will unquestionably simplify
the experiment, by substituting the virtues developed from me-
tallic silver, since Hahnemann prefers also the latter to the lunar
caustic, and believes it to be very soluble in the stomach juice;
we believe him in such instances more than on any other topic, since
he was, during his whole life, a particularly good judge of metallic
gold and silver, and could always metamorphose them in succum
et sanguinem. — Should the collateral homoeopathic effect of
silver prove too strong in regard to the falling sickness, though a
little touch of it may beneficially counteract the premature assump-
tion of the present generation of the emancipated negro, — we would
advert to the highly interesting discovery, lately made by Dr. Wer-
neck, of Salzburg, according to which all bad consequences of
poisoning by metallic substances, of course if they do not consist
in organic destruction, can be cured by the proper application of
electricity. Whites, with a blackish hue of the skin from lunar
caustic, may therefore now expect to acquire their old white colour
again, as well as negroes, who are too much'affected or dissatisfied
in being homoBopathically white-washed, their old deep sooty one.
This proposed measure would finally cost nothing, if we consider
what the largest homoeopathic dose is, in comparison with the allo-
pathic one of twenty millions of pounds sterling, granted by the
highminded Britons for the political emancipation of the coloured
population in the British dominions. The properly developed vir-
tue of a penny-worth of silver, would be more than sufficient for
all the negroes in America. We may leave it to the distinguished
arithmetical acquirements of Hahnemann and Dr. Hering, of
which we have above quoted some remarkable specimens, to de-
termine how many penny pieces will be necessary to whitewash

158

the whole African population ; provided they would accept this
benefit from their white homoeopathic brethren. — Difficile est sa-
tyram non scribere !

In following our subject we must prove, even admitting for a
moment the second homoeopathic maxim, similia similibus curan-
tur, to be fully correct, in these, that it is not only contradicted by
Hahnemann himself and by his doctrine, but also that it is utterly
impossible inpraxi, strictly to comply with its imperative requisites.
For this purpose we shall direct the attention of the indulgent
reader to the following quotations from Dr. Hering's pamphlet,
in addition to those quoted above from page 24. — On page 21 he
says, " Nothing indeed but the symptoms are to be accepted, as
" the guide to the treatment of the disease, because, in them alone,
" no error is possible, 1 ' and ibid. " but so much more necessary it is
" that every case of disease should be completely comprehended in
" all its symptoms, and with great accuracy," and on pages 21 and
22, "all the circumstances under which any complaint arises or
" disappears, increases or diminishes ; whether in motion or at
" rest, in certain situations and postures, whether by warmth or
" cold, in the open air or in the room, by light, by noises, by talk-
" ing or thinking, eating or drinking, touch or pressure, emotions
" of the mind or mental exertions, — all must be taken into account.
u Sensations on falling asleep, during sleep and on waking, the
" posture during sleep; even the dreams and the kind of thorn,
u whether of falling, of liying, of fire, of noises, of hunger, of motion,
" of seeing frightful objects, &c, all belong to the image of the
"disease, and any one of which, may not unfrequently be the de-
" ciding symptom," and on page 22, " regard being paid to the
" patient's mental constitution and temper," <fcc.

Hahnemann himself urges all these conditions also as the very
essence of his doctrine, in innumerable places of his writings, espe-
cially in his Organon and in his Materia Medica. Among others
he says, " the condition of the mind and humor of the patient
" materially decide the selection of a remedy, the choice of it de-
" pending principally upon the psychical symptoms of (lie diseased
" person." We cannot conceive how these directions could be well
complied with, and how the remarks just quoted can be reconciled
with the expressions of Hahnemann in many parts of his works,
especially in his Organon, from § 156 to § 176, where he tries to
demonstrate, in contradiction to his own and Dr. Hering's sugges-

159

lions, that at the bedside of the patient the hoin<e<>paihist must
sometimes be satisfied with /cm?, and even with a very few charac-
teristic symptoms. On page 225 § 158 of the Organon he says,
" 'The small number of homoeopathic symptoms, observable in the
" best selected drugs, does not however impede the cure, when these
" few symptoms are of an uncommon kind, and particularly
" distinctive of the disease, (characteristic ;) the cure will never-
" theless be effected without particular difficulty." — After the ex-
plicit expositions of Hahnemann and his worthy disciple cited
above, that all symptoms collectively, up to the most minute, are
indispensably required, in order to know the true character of the
case, or to form a faithful image of the disease, as a true copy of
the corresponding drug-sickness, there exists no characteristic
symptom, or signum pathognomonicum of the profession, for the
homoeopathist, as the totality of the symptoms in the natural
disease, when compared with the totality of the drag-symptoms,
without any superior or inferior value of one or more symptoms,
constitute the whole character of every disease in homoeopath ia.
We observe in all the experiments, instituted by Hahnemann with
drugs ou healthy persons, very few in which the drug-sickness
did not present at least a hundred, and frequently many hundreds
and even upwards of 1400 symptoms, among which none are par-
ticularly distinguished by him as principally characteristic of all
others, or as pathognomonioal ; it is therefore a gross inconsistency,
first to make the perfect similarity between the symptoms of the
drug,-and disease-sickness minutely dependent upon one another,
and to say that the salutary success of the treatment will only be
secured if both exactly coincide, and to curtail and retract after-
wards the same requisites. It is impossible to comprehend, how
the faithful homoeopathist can suffer any deduction of symptoms,
without destroying the only foundation of his diagnosis, and with-
out exposing his treatment to mere chance. Every syllable of the
homoeopathic symptomatology substantiates, that by the least
deduction of symptoms, and of course proportionally by a larger
one, the faithful homoeopathic practitioner, will experience the
greatest difficulties and when mistaken in his diagnosis, from the
want of sufficient symptoms, will find too late that he was
deprived of this his only compass on the vast ocean of all his drug-
an dnatural-sicknesses. On a minute scrutiny of Hahnemann's
Materia Medica, we observe that, two large catalogues of two drugs,
causing upwards of a thousand symptoms each, coincide by two-

160

thirds, others often by seven-eighths and sometimes still more with
each other. — It would be too tiresome for the reader as well as for
us, to extract here side by side, this coincidence, which as we have
stated, arises principally from this, that the subjective sensations
and feelings of the persons, constitute by far the larger part, when
compared with those symptoms, objectively obvious to the physi-
cian ; every one may compare them in the works quoted and in
Hahnemann's Treatise on Chronic Diseases. — From a comparison
between three homoeopathic drugs and their corresponding three
diseases, in order to arrive at the similarity between their symptoms,
it will become evident, that if, for instance, we find one thousand
symptoms belonging to the first drug, 900 to the second, and 800
to the third, 800 of which are alike in all three, that the first and
second are only distinguished relatively by 200 and 100 symptoms
from the third; — now if this deduction is made from the symp-
toms of the fiist and second drug, and two natural diseases before
us do not offer more and other symptoms than have remained after
this deduction, each of the latter must be confounded with each of the
former,and thus the true diagnosis of the diseases must be impossible.
Even if we admit to homoeopathists the existence of pathognoino-
nical symptoms in the sense of allopathia, it is inconsistent with
their doctrine to conjecture, that these symptoms only should
always be left, and that the others of minor value may be deducted,
since they think that the latter also contribute to form the true
image of the disease, and that the different expressions of the older
schools, symptomata causae, symptomata symptomatum, &c,
belong to the most foolish and detrimental prejudices of allopathia.
Should the adoption of characteristic symptoms be fully sufficient
to point out a disease in homesopathia, Hahnemann's display of
so many symptoms would be still more ridiculous, as contributing
only to enlarge the symptomatology of the older schools, without
the great advantages which the latter afford by their important
reference to the causes.

Had Hahnemann ever consistently acknowledged the wothr of
characteristic symptoms, he would have made the diagnosis more
easy and certain by a particular regard to them, whether he had
adopted those established as pathognomical symptoms by the mi-
nute observations of the older schools, or had suggested new ones,
drawn from his pretended discoveries; he would then have classi-
fied his natural diseases, as all authors on special pathology and

161

therapeutics do, and by comparing the characteristic symptom s
of natural diseases with those of drug-sickness, he would have
prevented those great mistakes to which his followers are now ex_
posed, it being left to th ir judgment what they may consider as
characteristic or not. Thus under the head of any name given
to a disease, he would have also pointed out the graduation in the
value of its symptoms. But this is not seen in Hahnemann's works,
though Dr. Hering (c. v. p. 25) speaks of different grades and of
a relative value. On the contrary, by stating all the symptoms
elicited by his experiments without any graduation, and by his
aversion to the names of diseases, he palpably distrusts the worth
of characteristic symptoms, and only adopts them, as he adopts and
rejects every thing, when it suits his convenience. Thus, if any
one says, " This drug must only be given to a person of such or
such peculiar form, with certain definite features, with a little wart
on the right cheek shaped so and so, and a small pimple on the
left one, coloured so and so, etc. etc. just like the image I have
given you, in order to ascertain all exactly; you are earnestly
forbidden to account for the least deficiency of the quoted symp-
toms by reasoning ; and unless you find all things exactly as I
have stated, you cannot administer this ding, without the great-
est probability that you will injure, perhaps kill the patient;" these
being exactly the directions of Hahnemann and Dr. Hering ac-
cording to the quotation mentioned above : we ask, can the con-
scientious homoeopathist, to whom this task is confided, allow any
deduction to be made of forty, sixty, or, as Hahnemann says, even
of upwards of ninety-six per cent, from the drug-symptoms of his
drug-sickness catechism ; can he administer the drug with any
prospect of cure, when called to a patient, whose disease does not
exactly resemble the image ; nay! who might perhaps present one
or two only of upwards of 1400 drug-symptoms? By such a re-
duction of characteristics in natural history there would be no dif-
ference between a flea and an elephant.

In overlooking in Hahnemann the great nonsense, which, as we
have seen, his interpretation of similia similibus curantur involves,
it is at least evident that he substitutes for the old axiom " cessante
causa ccssfat etiam eflectus," its reverse, " cessante effectu cessat
etiam causa." This great nonsensical fef£ov ifgors^ov of' the human
intellect and of all experience, has put him in the dilemma, either

21

162

to insist upon the indispensability of his symptomatology, and of
all the minutiae connected with it, without admitting the least de-
duction ; or to decide merely by his authority that the fundamen-
tal maxim of his doctrine, proclaimed by him as the law of nature,
admits of exceptions, although every rational person must admit
that it is thus totally subverted. As long as he did not deviate
from his repeated assertions, that the minutest symptom of the drug-
sickness materially belongs to the true image of the disease, as
well as the minutest lineament belongs to a true portrait, or as
the definite situation of the many pieces of coloured glass exactly
belong to a definite figure in the kaleidoscope, he was, at least,
consistent ; but when he admits that some and even many symp-
toms may be missing, without material injury to the safest treat-
ment, or still more, as we shall see soon, that all chronic diseases,
amounting in his catalogue to upwards of 400, depend only on one
latent and therefore imperceptible, or rather on no symptom ; then
we must declare that he himself has evidently destroyed the great-
est support of his whole doctrine, even in the eyes of his most de-
voted adherents, provided they are impartial and reasonable.

By adverting, however, to the quotations above cited from the
Concise View, we see that its author still follows with consistency
the original maxim of his master, as he appears unwilling to ad-
mit of any deduction. But then we cannot comprehend how he
can even partially fulfill the following promises, given in the com-
mon unworthy language of his fellowship on page 25. " The
" most acute and dangerous diseases, as inflammation of the lungs,
" pleurisy, inflammation of the brain and liver, and of the ear, apo-
" plexy and convulsions, most of the diseases of children, and
" even the most malignant forms of typhus are the easiest of all in
" the choice of a remedy." Let us leave unnoticed the substance
of these rhodomontades, worthy only of a man of that class in
which the author has ranged himself, by the whole tenor of his
Concise View ; let us for the present suppress that just indignation
which every man of sound morals and feelings will share with us,
when he sees proclaimed by a well educated professional man, the
promises, that most of the diseases of children, and even the most
malignant forms of typhus are the easiest of all in the choice of a
remedy, and of course also to cure ; brags more characteristic than
any homoeopathic symptom of times long past, when the oddly-

163

dressed doctor proclaimed from his stage in market-places, to the
gazing public, how wonderfully he can cure all diseases! Can any
one imagine, that a human being could under all circumstances
comply with the mentioned requisites of a correct homoeopathic
diagnosis without divination ?

How few individuals possess a perfect knowledge of themselves
and of their own mental and moral dispositions? — a knowledge
so rare, that the inscription on the Appollonian temple at Del-
phi, " yvu$i CsocuTov," " know thyself," struck the mind of one of
the wisest Greeks, and is still considered, by all philosophers,
as the highest attribute of human wisdom. How few patients can
express their feelings, and minutely relate the numerous symp-
toms occurring during an attack of a severe disease ? Is it not ri-
diculous to expect, for instance, from a senseless apoplectic, or from
one affected by malignant typhus fever, generally attended with
violent delirium, only one of the multitude of reports alluded to above
as indispensable for selecting a proper drug? How very few, if
any, of the fair-sex would condescend to open the remotest re-
cesses of their thoughts and feelings, and to permit the young
priest of jEsculapius to institute a minute examination, for ascer-
taining whether a small wart, or something like it, be located on
the shoulder or elsewhere !

We have already stated, that the large stock of words and ex-
pressions in one of the richest languages upon earth, the German,
proved insufficient for Hahnemann properly to render the terms o
his symptomatology. The numerous and frequently barbarous ex-
pressions of all shades of feelings, never heard of before, make it
difficult for a well-educated German, even if he be minutely ac-
quainted with the different provincialisms of his native country, to
understand all the singular terms and expressions of Hahnemann's
symptomatology, many of which are newly created by him : and
unless he, as well as his patient, attentively study them for a long
time, it must be almost impossible for a German homuopathist to
practise with the requisite exactness, even in his native country.

In order to give here a single specimen of " the accuracy hi-
therto unknown," and the " minutiae and niceties unheard of be-
fore," we shall quote only the following different expressions of
pain, which Hahnemann states must be distinguished minutely,

164

and which are indispensable for a correct diagnosis. — See Orga-
non, § 90. and Kopp. 1. c. p. 22. —

" Einfach (simple), stumpf (obtuse), pressend (pressing),
drueckend (compressing), spannend (bending), klemmend (jam-
ming), kneipend (pinching), shneidend (cutting), stechend (sting-
ing), ziehend (drawing), reissend (tearing), zuckend (shrugging),
stro3mend (streaming), wuehlend (crawling) drehend (turning),
bohrend (boring), windend (twisting), nagend (gnawing), fres-
end (eating), dehnend (extending), kratzend (scratching), pochend
(knocking) : to which we might add some equally important, as
zitternd (quivering), brennend (burning), feilend (filing) kitzlend
(tickling), etc. Each of these 26 expressions having a meaning
of its own, and Hahnemann requiring also the compound ones, we
have the following number of expressions for pain, if we add only
the combinations by 2 and 3 : —

Simple expressions 26
Combinations of two - 325
three - - - 2,600

Different expressions - Total 2,951

As in the same manner all other feelings and complaints of the
patient are minutely to be ascertained, written down, and com-
pared with the image in the large gallery of all the drug-sickness-
symptoms, by a faithful homceopathist, it is easy to comprehend
" that the advantage of short visits, and quickly writing a recipe,
" cannot be reconciled with homceopathia." (See Concise View,
p. 25). — It would be best for the doctor to board with his patient
for a few weeks until his minute inquiries are concluded.

What language less rich than the German could render all the
expressions in Hahnemann's works intelligible! it must have been
very troublesome, even for an able translator of his Organon only,
to translate; them into French, Italian, English, or any other lan-
guage ; and more so with many vulgar terms, contained in all
his works ; inconveniences which will make them unfit for an
exact translation, and partially unintelligible to foreigners, with-
out a voluminous glossary. No foreign patient could therefore
make himself well understood by his German homoeopathist, with-
out a previous tiresome study of such a glossary; and scarcely w r i)l
a foreign homoeopathist ever become so minutely acquainted with

165

the homoeopathic terminology? as is necessary to be exactly un-
derstood by his patients, who must no only be free from nervous
debility, from any disease of his head, chest, etc. but must possess
sirong respiratory organs, very stout nerves, considerable talka-
tiveness, and above all, a large allopathic dose of angelic patience,
fully to satisfy the minute cross-examinations of a faithful homoeo-
pathist. — It must indeed be very curious to witness the cross-exa-
minations of a native of " the sanguinary Gold Coast," or of
" Egypt, the land of monsters," by such a wonderful sprig of the
arbor vitae flourishing at Coethen, who, without being well ac-
quainted with the language, customs, etc. of that country, has car-
ried there " the new art of healing !"

The numerous and indispensable exigencies for a homoeopathic
diagnosis and infallible cure appear to us not less curious, in re-
spect to the particular ease, promised by the discreet and worthy
Dr. Hering, for the cure of the most acute and dangerous diseases
of children. How is it possible to dispense, in these cases, at
once with almost all symptoms, and be nevertheless so confident
of the right diagnosis and safe cure of the most dangerous acute
diseases ? In these cases there must be, for the homceopathist,
something present, not to be met with in adults ; some of the many
miracles of homceopathia, secretly revealed by Hahnemann only
to some of his beloved and more initiated disciples, by which a
new-born baby can tell all the minutiae of its feelings, dreams, etc.
and all that happened during its embryo-life. — Probably we shall
occasionally hear something highly interesting about some deve-
loped virtues, — about " domestic felicity," promoted already at
this period of human life by homoeopathists ; and about many other
objects which have hitherto remained concealed from all stupid al-
lopathists and naturalists. This hope will not seem extravagant
and ridiculous to any one who reads, in Hahnemann's work on
Chron. Dis. (vol. i. p. 173) among many other very amusing nar-'
ratives, quoted by the "old philosopher," in corroboration of his
" great truth," that " a new-born baby, only a few days old, will
" constantly rub and scratch the place where his hereditary itch
" is located."

Indeed ! we, and certainly many of our respected colleagues
in all the quarters of the globe would " again become students,"
(C.V.p. 16) to learn from these high-gifted men, how they can dis-

166

pense with so many symptoms for the easy cure of most dangerous
acute diseases of deaf and dumb persons; and if " upon the full-
"ness and accuracy with which the symptoms are noted, the entire
"management of the cure rests;" to hear by what miracle this
poor class is likewise exempt fiom the minute description of all
their thoughts and feelings so imperatively required from all other
patients ? Are all their diseases to be considered forthwith as latent
itch, or are they, when sick, to be left without the never failing
homoeopathic aid, and exposed to be murdered by allopathists ? —
Though now the unfortunate lunatics might be rescued from their
" leaden fetters, the bitterest human misery" by the " great truth,"
it is however highly important to know also how they can enjoy
the blessings of homoeopathia, as they are either unable minutely
to report their feelings, or cannot do this satisfactorily to their bene-
volent homoeopathic doctor ?

In observing a regular course we should now treat of Hahne-
mann's third and last maxim. As, however, his treatise on chro-
nic diseases is more connected with the second than with the third
maxim, we prefer to dwell here awhile upon this very intellectual
gem of the great genius. — We cannot do better than to commence
with the emphatic expression made by Dr. Bering upon the same
work on p. 18 of his Concise View. There he says, " While thus
" with blessings on its wings, the great discovery reached to every
" quarter of the earth, the master was silent, and his disciples ima-
" gined that he now reposed upon his laurels. But the old philo-
" sopher did not rest, and while his hair was growing gray on his
' : head, enriched with science, enriched with experience, his mind
" still retained its youthful vigour, and he boldly penetrated still
" deeper into the mysteries of nature. When an old man, at the
" age of 73, he suddenly surprised his astonished admirers with a
" new and great work, which far transcended all preceding disco-
" veries, and more than redoubled the power of the homoeopathic
" physician," etc. — How true the expression in Solomon's Book of
Wisdom, ch. iv. v. 9. — " But wisdom is the gray hair unto men,
" and an unspotted life is old age "

Hahnemann's preface to this work begins with the following
words, characteristic of his pneumatic laurels and of his youthful
vigour. " If I were ignorant of the object of my existence on this
" earth — to improve myself and to ameliorate the condition of all

167

" around me, to the best of my exertions, I should consider myself
" very imprudent in publishing, before my death, an art which is
" peculiar to myself, and which, if concealed, might continue to be
" extremely profitable to me."

One would think, that if any thing could bring homoeopathists
to reason, nothing could have been better adapted than this " great
" work, which really far transcended all preceding discoveries" — in
hair-brained nonsense ; and it will serve as a new proof that those
who once believe implicitly, can hardly ever be rescued from their
credulity and superstition. Indeed, yet in itself it is difficult to
conceive how " the power of the homoeopathic physician, 1 ' which
has been already before always and absolutely curing with the
greatest safety and quickness, and which never committed any error
could become by this great work " more than redoubled" unless
they can now raise from the dead, patients killed by allopathists?
Every impartial reader however, who has noticed Hahnemann's
earlier productions, must have been astonished, that after all the
whimsical suggestions which he has stated in his Organon and
in his Materia Medica, so many could remain which he published
in 1828, in this voluminous work ; as he himself states, " after a
" painful labour of twelve years ;" — a space of time, worthy of such
a monstrosity, which presents but few or rather no traces of human
understanding. Indeed, no science whatever, not even medicine,
so exuberantly rich in the most whimsical and absurd suggestions,
can present a work, so crowded from beginning to end, with such
absurdities.

The probable cause why Hahnemann has undertaken this
" gigantic work," we believe to be, that he was aware of the
stumbling block, which he himself has laid in the way of his second
homoeopathic maxim, similia similibus curantur, by its minute
dependance on so many symptoms, and that he could only remove
this great obstacle, which in most cases would nullify the practical
application of his doctrine, in revoking his former rigorous exigen-
cies by a new dictatorial decree, which admits not only a very large
deduction of symptoms, but which directly teaches, that in most
diseases hommopathia can dispense with them entirely. Hahne-
mann, after his Organon was published, must have seen more
clearly the insurmountable difficulties of his doctrine, if the minute
distinction of symptoms in the much larger number of chronic
complaints, should be regarded as indispensable as it was in

1(58

acute diseases. It must have appeared to him impossible, and a
task far exceeding one man's life, to ascertain with the leasl shadow
of credibility what, drug, among the immense number of which he
had tried only about sixty, would produce, if administered to
healthy persons, a disease not depending upon exalted feelings,
imagination, implicit belief or premeditated deception, but upon
real changes obvious to the senses of every observer. He would
also hardly have found any of his disciples, however otherwise
willing to satisfy the whims of their master from implicit faith,
credulity., or respect for his "extraordinary talents," who would have
quietly condescended to be the subject of experiments, intended for
ascertaining, which one of the simple drugs might produce con-
sumption, apoplexy, hernia inguinalis, carcinoma, or any other of
those diseases, which have been generally considered as danger-
ous and fatal, for centuries not yet enlightened by homoeopathia. It
was an easy task for a devoted disciple or an infatuated adept to
state, after taking the decillionth part of a grain of the extract of
Henbane, (see Materia Medica, Vol. IV.) I feel giddy, a headache,
stiffness in my neck, shaking, tickling and humming in my ears;
I feel jealous, inclined to injure others and to kill myself, &c; or
he might even have appeared to stagger, to tremble when walking,
to convulse his eyes and his limbs a little, &c. The patient may
also have exultingly praised the delivery from all his propensities,
pains, &c.

" Tantum cura potest et ars doloris,

" Desit fingere Caslius Podagram." — Martial,

All these maybe the natural eilects of an exaiied imagination, o(
courtesy towards an inquisitive man, who evidently wishes tu hear
such extraordinary reports, or be a consequence of such experi-
ments as we have tried to explain. But the author of homoeopathia,
if he has ever been so foolish as to believe that all chronic diseases
could be produced in healthy persons by drugs, could not expect
his most obliging disciple to come forth in the vigour of health, and
to present, after a few experiments with the virtue developed from
a decillionth part of a grain of common table salt, charcoal, <fcc, or
by an artificial infection with itch, all the symptoms of a pulmo-
nary consumption, of a bad carcinoma, of an inguinal rupture, of
a nasty disfiguring itch, &c, or even to commit murder, suicide,
&c; all of which are the symptoms of upwards of 100 chronic
diseases, and all of which arise simply from itch-sickness, as is to

169

be seen in Samuel Hahnemann's work on Chronic Diseases. Vol.
I., from page 93 to 136. Should such experiments even partially
succeed in producing one of the many horrible diseases, but after-
wards fail in not reestablishing the former healthy state, Hahne-
mann not only ran the risk of putting at once his doctrine and
reputation at stake, but had also to fear the laws of the country,
which willingly permitted him to continue his fanciful doctrine and
his negatively innocent practice, but which would have inflicted
upon him an allopathic dose of the punishment, prescribed by law
for all experiments by which human health and life are injured.
These difficulties must have increased when he considered the mul
tifarious species and varieties of many chronic diseases, already
minutely distinguished from each other, especially by the great
progress and discoveries of pathological anatomy ; had lie treated
of these diseases singly, he might possibly have coincided in some
topics with those whom he stigmatized as idiots and murderers.

Hahnemann for these reasons was forced to dispose by wholesale
of all the chronic diseases, physical as well as mental, and to
abandon for them his fundamental maxim, similia similibus cu-
rantur, substituting for it a new theory, which he emphatically
calls "the great truth." The substance of this is, that itch is the
only cause of seven-eighths of all chronic diseases; leaving only
one-eighth for syphilis and for a disease termed by him sykosis or
wart-sickness, the former however having the larger share.*

Hahnemann being also aware that, in most cases, it would be
impossible to trace, even distantly, the origin of a chronic disease
to an infection by itch, advises his followers, in many parts of his
work on chronic diseases, and also in the last edition of his Or-
ganon, nevertheless always confidently to suppose in such cases
the existence of a latent itch, namely, of such a one which is
imperceptible by any of our senses, and which of course presents
no symptom at all. This is stated by the same man. who, a few
pages before, in the same work, applies the term " murderers'' to

* Ignorant homceopathists consider sykosis likewise as one of the great discoveries
made by Hahnemann, though it was known under the same term to Galen and other
older Greek authors, according to Celsus, who, in his work de Medicina, 1. vi. cap. 3,
explicitly says, "est enim ulcus quod, a fit i similitudine (fuxwCTfj a G'raecis nomina-
" tur, quia caro in eo excrescit." It is pardonable to this old author, that he con-
sidered it as a specific disease and as independent of syphilis, which of course was
unknown to him; although sykosis may sometimes depend on other dyscrasiae, espe-
cially on the tubercular ; it frequently exists merely as a slight local affection, like
other parasitical productions of an increased or changed local vegetative process,
without any constitutional cause, or any influence upon health.

22

170

all his professional predecessors and contemporaries, who are so
crazy as to say, " remove the cause of the disease if you intend ra-
" dically to remove its effects, or the disease itself;" this was done
by the same man who says in the same work, (Organon, p. i5),
when speaking of the different specific morbid matters adopted by
the old schools, as the scrophulous,-herpetic,-gout-matter, &c. :
" Who, of all the nosologists, has ever seen with his corporeal
" eyes such a morbid matter, of which he can speak with so great
" a confidence as to prescribe a medical treatment for it?" this
was done by the same man, who still makes it a sacred duty for
his disciples and followers exactly to observe his advice, expressed
in his " Reine Arzney mittellehre" or " Materia Medica," second
edit. 1825, Vol. III. on page 6, in the following manner: " Take
" one case after another, put down all its discoverable symptoms,
" according to the direction of the Organon, with such minute-
" ness, that the founder of homceopathia himself could not object
" in the least to its perfect exactitude ; in every individual case
" apply the proper homoeopathic medicine, pure and unmixed,
" in as small a dose as the doctrine prescribes, but have also all
" other remedial influences removed from the 'patient, as is ex-
" pressly required ; and if this mode will not cure the disease
" easily, quickly, and durably, then blame this doctrine ; I repeat,
" then expose to public contempt this doctrine, which so seriously
" threatens to destroy the old darkness, by placing before the
" public, legally confirmed, the particulars of a cure, attempted
" strictly in compliance with the homoeopathic doctrine/'

Hahnemann seems so enraptured with his itch, that since he
published his " great truth,' 1 he thinks it not worth while to speak
much about the two other chronic diseases, syphilis and sykosis ;
and even in § 168 of his Organon, (4th edit.) he appears to
have again abandoned the newly adopted copartnership of sykosis;
nay ! it would not be very difficult to prove, from some other pas-
sages in his work, that he is disposed to regard all acute dis-
eases as likewise arising simply from itch, and that he considers,
therefore, the latter as the innate physical sin of the human race,
existing from Adam down to the present age ; so that the terms
disease and itch are almost considered by him as synonymous.

The adoption of the itch as the cause of many diseases, is a
very antiquated opinion, though it has never been carried so fat-
as it is now by Hahnemann. This has probably induced Hahne-

171

maun to give to the general infection by itch the preference over
any other similar cause of which he was in need.

We may well imagine that a voluminous work, containing the
results of new experiments in natural philosophy, chemistry, or in
any other branch of natural history, might many years be withheld
before its author, anxious to corroborate the validity of his disco-
very, resolves to publish his researches. But Hahnemann's pain-
ful labour during twelve years, as stated by himself, can only be
explained by his consulting ancient authors, in order to find what
general cause of all chronic diseases has been preeminently adopt-
ed by medical authors. In this way he has found that scabies sup-
presses was the cause chiefly mentioned among all the presumed
material causes of many, and particularly of chronic diseases. —
That he has only secretly brooded over this great truth, without
instituting experiments, becomes more evident by the statement of
Dr. Hering, that " he was silent," and that his ' : disciples imagined
" that he now reposed upon his laurels." He could not have insti-
tuted all these experiments secretly on himself, nor does he
mention that he did so. He must therefore, besides the literary
investigations mentioned, have perhaps collected on!}' some
single experiments with drugs on healthy persons, for which he
could not find a proper place in his homoeopathic doctrine ; and
by all means this statement, made by himself and his disciples,
proves likewise clearly, that he indulged here again in his old
propensity to secrecy, otherwise we should think that he would
have been anxious to communicate the " great truth" as soon as
possible, at least to some of his disciples, and to see it confirmed
also by their practice.

The opinion of infection by itch, as the principal cause of most
chronic diseases, was very popular during many ages don it to the
last century, especially in Germany. In cities like Fuerth, in Ba-
varia, where we passed our youth, itch being endemic, or having
been so at least for many years before we left it, it is not strange
that such an opinion was very common, not only among pro-
fessional men, but also among the public, as we observed in the
practice of our deceased father, who was one of the most distin-
guished physicians in that place.*

' Among those modem authors who believe itch to lie the cause of many diseases,
may be named also Professor Autenrieth of the University of Tuebingen, as lie sug-

172

Many of these apprehensions were correct, since numerous chro-
nic and acute diseases originated in itch ; though not in this dis-
ease itself, so much as in the obnoxious prejudices which formerly
attended its long-protracted treatment. Hahnemann asserts a

gested in a treatise, " tie morbis e scabie oriundis, magistratuum attentione non
"indignis, Tubingae, 1807," of which Hahnemann could not have been ignorant,
though to our knowledge he has not been just enough to- give him credit for it. This
is also the case, we believe, with his maxim, similia similibus curantur, to which not
only Haller but also Professor Blumenbach at Goettingen has alluded long before
Hahnemann. This great naturalist, as we slightly remember, has in one of his first
works (Introductio in historiam medicinac literariam) about fifty years ago, very dis-
tinctly alluded to this maxim, and much more so than the celebrated Albertus Haller
did, though as may be expected from this distinguished professor, likewise in the
sense of the expression we suggested above. — It appears also a little strange that
Hahnemann, who by his suggestion of the cause of Asiatic Cholera seems to be so
remarkably fond of insects, did not notice Lancisi's theorv, which has been adopted
by many distinguished naturalists, and even by Linne and Morgagni, viz. that the
itch depends always upon a peculiar insect, Acarus or Cheyletus scabiei, frequently
portrayed, as for instance in the treatise of Wichmann, " on the itch." (iEtiologie
der Kraetze.) This would have rendered the excessive propagation of itch more
explicable, and the " great truth" at all events more lively. He would not have
sacrificed any originality by adopting the Acarus scabiei, as he has already se-
cured his place in the history of medicine. His opinion that Cholera is caused
by small insects is likewise not original, and he must have known that dysentery,
so similar to Asiatic Cholera, was long before his time ascribed to insects by Friedr.
Hoffmann, Linne, Latreille, and others. His originality consists in the follow-
ing ; he has written different treatises about Asiatic Cholera without ever having
seen one patient suffering by Asiatic Cholera ; he has prophesied that no patient will
die after his camphor-treatment, though not one was manifestly saved by it ; and that
according to him, also another great remedy for this scourge, oleum cajeputae. (which
proved not less ineffectual than camphor, and in a few cases was useful only like any
other essential oil,) must always contain copper ; this is likewise false, since the most
exact chemical analyses are unable to detect it. Were he less ignorant of the ele-
ments of the "overrefined" chemistry, he would not have resorted to this false
opinion of copper, but would have made use of the beneficial effect of oil of cajeput
as a particular argument in favor of his opinion, so emphatically expressed about the
camphor treatment, since this essential oil, like most others, much resembles camphor,
and contains a considerable quantity of it. But according to his usual mode of
reasoning, concluding from the similarity between the green colour of some solutions
of copper and of the same in the oil of cajeput, he determined that henceforth copper
must be the homoeopathic poison or allopathic remedy for his animalcula cholerica,
which neither he nor any mortal being has ever seen, which he never subjected to
his experiments similar to those on healthy persons, and which therefore, of course,
he could not know how to make drug-sick or to kill. The uselessness of copper in
Asiatic Cholera, in spite of all the medical bulls, prophecies and commands which
emanated from the high pontifical see at Ccethen, against these barbarous eastern
intruders, may however not be the fault of the great philosopher, since these little
infusoria appear to possess ralher a tough constitution, and not to be affected by itch;
they seem at least as insensible to the virtues developed by homceopathists as they
are to a severe Russian winter, to a scorching West Indian summer, and to all the
tremendous remedies of the medical profession ; this free country however excepted,
where these cruel little autocrats appear to have found their conquerors. An Ameri-
can homoeopathist has already published that he has cured all his cholera patients by
Hahnemann's camphor-treatment, though as we have seen above, his homccopathic
brethren in Europe were not so happy. Another who left a populous city and
his patients at the approach of the cholera in 1832, told us that after safely returning
late in September, he cured more than 600 patients, although it is notorious, that not
one physician of the same city, who attended the largest hospital during the whole
epidemic saw in all six hundred patients; it is also known that the epidemic abated
suddenly, and that towards the end of September only a few sporadic cases of it ex-
isted. — So much for the veracious statements of some homceopathists'

173

gross falsehood, in saying that the bad consequences of itch prin-
cipally arose from considering it as not constitutional, and from
treating it with external remedies only. The contrary is the case,
for until the last thirty years, the profession has erroneously con-
sidered itch and similar chronic exanthematic diseases as always
merely constitutional, and has believed a long treatment by internal
antidyscrasic remedies alone as useful ; it really became constitu-
tional by disturbances of the reproductive system thus artificially
produced, and when at last external remedies were resorted to,
many of which were injurious to health, the worst consequences
arose therefrom, which in our times are never to be feared from a
judicious local treatment.

Hahnemann, regardless of the great difference between miasma
and contagion.* and comprising both under the former term, con-
siders the itch-miasma as the most infectious of all diseases. —
Tracing, by a shining display of Hebrew, Greek, &c, its origin
back even to the records of sacred history, he leaves others to con-
jecture how this scourge, by which the human race has been
inflicted with so many, so multifarious and so dangerous diseases,
first commenced many thousand years ago, (see Chr. Dis., Vol. I.
page 15 and 199.)

This doctrine of Samuel Hahnemann, if properly acknowledged,
cannot fail to cause an immense revolution in all the diversified
relations of human life. We are justified in anticipating this,
when we observe that Hahnemann ascribes not only all physical
chronic diseases, but also all morbid alienations of the human
mind solely to itch, (see Chr. Dis., Vol. I., from page 28 to page
134.) This will be more clearly understood if we merely refer to
the latter, and consider that most, if not all mental diseases origi-

* Hahnemann nullifying, whenever it suits him, all facts ascertained by repeated
observations of distinguished naturalists and almost all medical practitioners, says on
Vol. II. pages and 7, of his Materia Medica, "No man can be infected by the virus
" secreted from his own syphilitic ulcer or gonorrhoea, any more than a viper can kill
" or only hurt itself by its own poison in a dangerous manner." He is therefore igno-
rant or wilfully denies that the eyes of persons, infected by their own gonorrhoic virus,
were in thousands of instances severely attacked by the most dangerous, and fre-
quently incurable and destructive ophthalmia, and also that, as has been repeatedly
observed by naturalists, the scorpion and the rattle-snake if enraged, without being
capable of hurting their aggressor, kill themselves by their own sting or bite. — We
call the attention of the. reader to this single instance of the many in the homoeo-
pathic doctrine, which strikingly prove the immense and irreparable injury which must
arise from an implicit belief in the ravings of its author; since every well educated
physician should know, that eyes inflamed by the gonorrhoic vicus will to all proba-
bility be forever lost within less than twenty-four hours, if proper aid is not immedi-
ately administered.

171

nate in passion, and that the higher degrees of all passions are
justly regarded by the philosophers of all ages as particular kinds
of madness. If therefore all the different kinds and varieties of the
latter solely depend upon itch, according to the " great truth" dis-
covered by Hahnemann, it follows, a fortiori, that henceforth,
none of the passions in men, the most noble as well as the most
depraved, can originate from any thing else than from itch.
Ardent love, or

" sacred fire that burn'st mightily

" In living breast ykindled first above,"

being only a symptom of latent itch, the individual affected by it
without having his love returned, must henceforth submit to a
homoeopathic antipsoric treatment. The itchy pair, prevented from
a more pleasant radical cure by their obstinate parents, will now
undoubtedly be radically cured by antipsorics, in a manner fully
satisfactory also to their too scrupulous parents, who otherwise would
have perhaps repented, when too late, of their harsh behaviour, not
remembering those joyful times when they also were affected in a
similar manner by the itch.

The husband, who before the great truth was revealed to the
world, was made unhappy by the jealousy of his " green-eyed" wife,
will no longer deplore his disastrous fate; since the homa^opathist-
can now cure by their developed virtues the true cause of this
odious passion, the itch, and thus tie again the nuptial knots
loosened by jealousy, with the rosy garlands of renewed confidence
and constant love.

The gloomy verses of the great moralising poet, Young.

" Britain, infamous for suicide,

" An island in thy manners ! far disjoined

" From the whole world of rationals besides,

" In ambient waves plunge thy polluted head,

" Wash the dire stain, nor shock the continent." —

will be expunged, as soon as these high-minded islanders accept
" a treasure like this new art;" since latent itch is the only cause
of suicide. (See Chr. Dis. Vol. I. p. 135.) But we would advise
them not " to plunge in ambient waves," nor to " wash the dire
" stain," but to use antipsorics, because, according to Hahnemann,
the latent itch becomes severer and rebellious by all external re-
medies, and of course therefore also by washing.
The decillionth developed virtue of table-salt, charcoal or a si-

175

milar antipsoric will disarm and transmute into the most amiable
philanthropist,

" The secret enemy, whose sleepless eye

" Stands sentinel— accuser — judge — and spy,

" The foe — the fool — the jealous — and the vain,

" The envious who but breathe in other's pain." — Byron.

All the deformities of children before birth, and their different
anomalous positions, arise only from itch, (see 1. c. p. 233), and
the accoucheurs will no longer be obliged to trouble the suffering
women and themselves with the forceps and other instruments
hitherto recommended by the stupid and murderous allopathists.
Should they meet with cases of difficult labor, they may rather
apply a virtue developed from an antipsoric, and call again in some
days or weeks, in order to observe its " after-operation," and to
ascertain if the delivery has become easy or requires another an-
tipsoric virtue for some weeks or months longer, until at last the
tc salutary after-operation" of the homoeopathic dose has fulfilled
the parental hopes and joys.

Inguinal ruptures will henceforth happen very seldom, if proper
care is taken to prevent them by antipsorics, since, (loc. cit. p. 108),
we are taught that, a few cases of sudden violence excepted, the itch
is always their principal and only cause. — As all the great geni-
uses are not always disposed minutely to express their meaning,
but speak often aphoristically, so also our Samuel in regard to this
topic ; he leaves all mankind in darkness why hernia ingitinalis
only will be certainly prevented and cured without trusses and
other remedies by an antipsoric treatment, and why not likewise
hernia cruralis, umbilicalis and all similar ruptures? We remain
also ignorant whether the antipsoric will cure all kinds of bubo-
novele, enterocele, epiplocele, entero-epiplocele, &c, or only oiu
kind.

The criminal laws will undergo, by our great reformer, much
greater changes than ever, not excepting even those made by
Charles V., in his penal code ; and then every rogue will be
cunning enough to apologize, and justly claim indulgence for his
offence, by a " small wart or pimple," located somewhere ; per-
haps, also, the crime committed will clearly prove, that he is far
beyond all moral responsibility from his moral incapacity to resist
the bad influence of the latent itch, located in his heart, his hands,
or somewhere else, and he will palpably show that he deserves

17(1

therefore, to be subjected to a regular homoeopathic antipsoric treat-
ment, rather than to be punished with solitary confinement or
perhaps even death.

Hahnemann, at any rate, advocates the abolishment of punish-
ment by death, and renders it very expedient to subject, in future,
all the inmates of state prisons, if the people should not soon dis-
pense with such cruel allopathic institutions, to an antipsoric
treatment, in large itch-hospitals.

All mankind will be greatly benefitted by Hahnemann's great
truth, as it will not merely prevent the self-destruction of the human
race by itch, which, being the only cause of all mental maladies, as
murder, suicide, &c, might easily affect people epidemically, and
lead them to kill one another, or to commit suicide en masse, but
will also deliver mankind from almost the only infectious cause
of all chronic diseases. War, the destroyer of human life, will
cease to exist, since it unquestionably arises from many heinous
passions, and, of course, therefore, from itch ; and consequently
the great problem of all philanthropists and philosophers, in regard
to eternal peace, will be solved by Hahnemann's great discovery ;
perhaps by the virtue developed from one grain of table-salt.

The reader can easily picture for himself the great changes in
all trades, and in all other occupations of human society, after this
immense discovery, shall be justly appreciated by every one. Poor
allopathic physicians, apothecaries, wholesale druggists, and un-
dertakers, are the only sufferers severely visited, and should
hasten to turn their attention to some other profitable business,
which might indemnify them for the great injury inflicted on
them by this immense progress of the human intellect, as pro-
claimed by " one of the greatest benefactors of mankind" — Samuel
Hahnemann.*

* It is indeed astonishing that the great philologists, with all their endeavours to
prove that every language is based upon the philosophical conceptions of its nation,
and is especially expressive in its idioms, sentences, proverbs, &c, did not discover
before Hahnemann the intimate connexion of itch and moral faults, because the few
languages which we are able to consult, in regard to this topic, signify this connexion
very distinctly; the Greek xvi^w and xaraxvi^w signifies itch,a\so to make, or to be
angry, to make jealous, xvi£stf$ai <rivog, to be inflamed by love, &c. ; The Latin sca-
bies, is a word very expressive for propensities and passion, of some of which Hah-
nemann has constantly felt the irresistible impulse (concupiscentia.) In this manner
Horace says, Ep. I. 12, 14, to his friend.

" Cum tu inter scabiem tantam et contagia lucri
" Nil parvum sapias et adhuc sublima cures !"
In a similar manner, Lucilius ap. Non. 2. n. 701, says :

" Corruptus scabie et porrigine plenus."

177

Before we leave this topic to discuss the third and last maxim
of homoeopathia, we think it advisable to quote some of Hahne-
mann's remarkable explanations of his itch-doctrine, though, to
show his sentiments, judgment, and style, we have already ex-
tracted the first sentence of the preface to his treatise on chronic
diseases. We omit, purposely, any comment upon the mean and
disgraceful sentiments and feelings, the total disregard of any
thing like consistency, and the vulgar style contained in the fol-
lowing few quotations, selected from the many with which this
work of Hahnemann likewise abounds, leaving their examination
to the impartial judgment of the critic.

" Nos hac a scabie tenemus ungues." — Martial.

To prove more minutely the correctness of his itch-doctrine,
Hahnemann says, in Vol I. p. p. 89,90 and 91, of this large work,
mentioned : — " But again, if a favorable situation should arrest
" the progress of the disease, after it had broken out, real health
" cannot be reestablished by any method hitherto known, and the
" common allopathic treatment with active and improper drugs,
" baths, mercury, prussic acid, starvation, and other fashionable
" remedies, only accelerates approaching death, the termination of
" all sufferings incurable by physicians. Thus a merchant, strong
" and apparently healthy, some symptoms of latent itch excepted,
' : which are perceptible only to a judge, will, by several unfortunate
" business transactions, be gradually reduced in his wealth, until

and Cicero, Leg. I. 17, " quia hac scabie carent." The verb prurirc signifies to itch,
and also to deserve punishment for some wrong or offence committed ; for instance,
" num malae an dentes tibi pruriunt." See Plauti PoenolusV. 5. 36. In the Eng-
lish the substantive itch, and the verb to itch, correspond together in regard to the
propensity of doing some wrong ; thus in Shaksp. Wives of Windsor " If I see a sivord
" out, my fingers itch to make one," or my fingers itch to be at him, which signifies
at all events, some wrong intended ; the French expression, " la peau, le das lui de-
mange," means, he deserves punishment; the same is the meaning with the Italian
"pizzicare, aver prurito, mi pizzicano le mani,e tile rcni," and with the German, "der
"Buckeljucktihn; dieHaende oder finger jnckeri ihn,"ecc. ; the same, as onp feels an
irresistible propensity to steal, &c. The word "shabby," schaclig, common to the English'
and German languages, signifies itchy, and likewise the most contemptible propen-
sity, "avaricious" What can confirm the correctness of the "great truth," more than to
find in the languages of the most civilized nations such synonymous expressions, which
they were artlessly, and almost inconseiouslj forced to adopt, on account of the
similiarity of two things !— Is Dr. Hering not fully in the right when he says on
page 18 of his 0. V. that this " new and great work far transcended all preceding
"discoveries, and more than redoubled the power of the homoeopathic physician?" If
we ever have repented of not possessing greater philological acquirements, it is at this
moment, in order to do justice to the great genius, by better and similar quotations
from other language! Hahnemann must have been unconscious of these important
arguments for his great truth, otherwise he would have mentioned them in his works.
May he graciously accept this, our small offering, by,which he, as a more accomplished
scholar, will be led still more to improve his elevated idea — of the itch.

23

178

" he is almost bankrupt, and at the same time he will be affected
" with different illnesses, and be eventually attacked by a serious
" disease. But the death of a rich relative, or the gain of a high
" prize in the lottery, abundantly restores his losses ; he becomes
" a wealthy man, and nevertheless his disease continues every year,
" in spite of all medical prescriptions and of all his visits to the
" most famous mineral springs.

" Since the cause must always be proportionate and equal to its
" effects, the reason to its consequences, as is ever the case in na-
" ture, no body can understand, why, in this case, after the re-
" moval of the external attacks upon the health of the person, the
" following evils should not only continue, but grow also worse
" from year to year, unless there existed another and a higher
" cause — acting in such a manner, that these loathsome events,
" both having disappeared and being therefore unable to consti-
" tute a cause sufficient for the following chronic disease, can only
" be considered as the occasional cause for the developement of a
" more important hostile power, which had already existed before
" internally, but in a slumbering state."

In further corroboration of his acute and deep logical conclusions,
he continues on the same pages : — " A modest girl, believed to be
" perfectly healthy, symptoms of internal itch excepted, is forced
" into a marriage, which makes her soul unhappy ; her bodily
" health begins to decay, without any signs of syphilitic infection.
" Her calamitous complaints can be ameliorated by no medicine,
" and they assume a still more serious character. In the midst
" of this state, after a year of suffering, the cause of her misfor-
" tunes, the husband, detested by her, suddenly dies, and she re-
" vives, convinced that she is now relieved from the very cause of
" all her mental and physical sufferings, and entertains the hope
" of a speedy recovery ; all her friends share her anticipations, as
" the cfruse which has excited her disease lays now in the grave.
" She indeed improves rapidly ; but, contrary to all expectations,
" she remains sickly, the strength of her youth notwithstanding ;
" her sufferings cease but rarely, and are renewed from time to
« time, without any apparent cause, and seem even to become
" more severe every year, (during the inclement season)," &c.
Hahnemann repeats again more distinctly :_ *< Indeed if these un-
» happy events had been the causes, the efficient causes of the
« symptoms of the disease, would it not follow, that their effect,

179

_t the disease, should have also censed entirely alter the eauses was
" removed ? But the complaints do not cease, they are renewed,
' : and even increased and it becomes manifest, that these unhappy
" events could not have been a sufficient cause for the complaints
" now existing ; it is obvious that they have served only as an
" impulse to the developement of a sickness, which hitherto has
" slumbered within the body. The diagnosis of this old and fre-
" quently internal enemy, and the knowledge how to defeat it,
" render it evident, that generally an internal itch (psora) has
" caused all these sufferings, which cannot be appeased, even by
" the power of the strongest constitution, but can be overcome only
" by the healing art."

So much for Dr. Hcring's and his brother homoeopath ists' " old
" philosopher enriched with experience," and the " treasury of new
"observations and experience scarcely to be overlooked," (see page
IS of the Concise View.)

Those who are able and willing to read in the original, the
reasons for " the great truth" in extenso, will find no page of
the four big volumes to contain any more sense than our quota-
tions, which we have selected only as the easiest to translate ; they
generally display nonsense not less disgraceful.

We now come to the third and last maxim of homceopathia,
which says, that by certain mechanical processes from all natural
substances, and especially from all simple drugs, specific powers
or virtues can be developed, which act always absolutely and un-
conditionally, so as to produce in healthy persons definite diseases,
the symptoms of which, when similar to those in natural diseases,
will cure the latter by removing its symptoms; and that the powers
or virtues thus developed increase ad infinitum, in the direct ratio
of the mechanical processes and in the indirect ratio of the quantity
of the drug, so that their doses can never be chosen too small.

This maxim, if divested from its principal singular conceptions,
would have produced much benefit to the profession, and especially
to its practice, if Hahnemann could have elevated his mind above
his cherished charlatanism, or above his propensity to the grossest
absurdities.

Thousands of instances in chemistry prove beyond all doubt that
very small quantities of a substance may materially change a dis-
proportionate large quantity of another, if both or one of them are
in a liquid state ; — corpora nan agunt nisi fluida. — The manner in

180

which such phenomena occur, justifies the opinion, that whenever
an affinity or some active relation between two or more substances
exists, this action will begin immediately after the two substances,
however disproportionate in quantity, come in contact or within
their mutual sphere of action, though these changes appear to
us to begin only when coming within the limits of our senses.
We should perceive these changes much earlier and in a much
higher degree of dilution, if our senses were less limited and if the
minute changes in colour could be made more perceptible by a
chromoscope, as those in size are by a microscope. If for instance,
in a solution of a salt of Platina a visibly changed colour is produced
by a reagent weighing only the millionth part of the former, we
may conjecture that this change has taken place long before it was
visible, and in the immediate sphere of the mutual action of both
substances. The same will be the case with the slightest vapour of
Iodine upon a disproportionately large quantity of starch, or with
the smallest quantity of arsenic, capable of making brittle a pro-
portionately large quantity of gold, the most ductile metal. Daily
experience, especially in the practice of medicine, proves still more
clearly, that the smallest particles contained even in the vapour
or gas of substances, produce in the healthy as well as in the dis-
eased state, in men as well as in animals, very remarkable pheno-
mena and even sudden death, although their weight and bulk
cannot be distantly compared with the weight and bulk of the
individual upon whom they operate ; their effect can be referred
only to the dynamical processes in organized living bodies, by
which the influence of the smallest particle of the substances upon
any point of the living body, capable of becoming excited by and of
reacting upon it, suddenly spreads over the whole body. Thus if the
largest animal sinks lifeless to the ground by the least approach of
the vapour of prussic acid to its nose, or if persons become instan-
taneously giddy, asthmatic, &c, by merely smelling of Yeratrine
for a moment, these effects cannot result from the weight and bulk
of the substances mentioned, but are only the consequences of the
deleterious dynamo-chemical processes excited and propagated by
them. Future advances in anatomy, physiology, and particularly
in chemistry, in their paths now so brilliantly paved, will probably
demonstrate, that the electro-chemical processes and the nervous
system as the principal conductor in the animal economy, take, if
not the only, certainly the principal part in these phenomena.

181

All these experiments, however, do not vary from the law of
nature, that wherever different matters act upon one another chemi-
cally or otherwise, by immediate contact (if this can he admitted,) or
at a certain distance, they always actin the direct, but never in the in-
verse ratioof their bulk and weight, or in sucha mannerthata smaller
quantity would produce under similar circumstances a greater effect
than a larger one. We may therefore also expect with the greatest pro-
priety, that under identical circumstances, we shall see also identical
phenomena, and where this appears different to us, we may justly
presume that the circumstances were not identical, and that some
other influences beyond the control of our perception have co-
operated, but we can by no means account for it by the inverse
ratio between cause and its effect.

Contrary to this general law of nature, Hahnemann's concep-
tions about his developement of virtues from drugs, admit no other
explanation than that the powers of the drugs are really not only
increased by his singular manipulations, but that they are deve-
loped by them in the inverse ratio of their weight and bulk.
Though this will become still more evident in the progress of
this discussion, we must direct the particular attention of the
reader to this topic, not only because it forms one of our principal
objections to the homoeopathic doses, and therefore particularly
to the practical application of this doctrine, but also because the
homoeopathists will be anxious to prove, that we have committed
a palpable and gross error, or have wilfully distorted by sophisms
Hahnemann's meanings and intentions.

Hahnemann and his adherents assert, that in applying doses of
drugs immensely small and not distantly comparable to those hi-
therto thought of by any man, it is not the absolute srnallness of
the dose itself which accounts for their miraculous effect, but the
virtue which becomes developed by the homoeopathic triturations
and shakings, and that this virtue increases in a direct ratio with
the continuation of these manipulations. Now we ask : does this
explanation mean anything, except that the power of the drug be-
comes increased at every higher developement, and that, as a frac-
tion of one percent, of the different triturations or dilutions of one
grain or drop always remains, that also the developed power is
absolutely increased in the inverse ratio of its weight ? To prove
this more clearly, let us take two substances S and s, the for-

182

mer of which, or S, contains a latent power P (suppose for instance
the power or rather the capacity to become ignited,) while the lat-
ter, s, is inert and serves only as a vehicle, a menstruum, in short,
as a mechanical mean for developing, by triturating or shaking,
the power contained in S. Now take a portion of S equal to
W and ninety-nine times as much of s, and rub them minutely, or
dissolve both and shake them together. After this first trituration,
take again one part of this mixture or solution called M, equal to
the weight of W, and pulverize or dissolve it again with another
ninety-nine parts of s, to obtain a new mixture called m, and so con-
tinue and repeat these processes twelve times in the same manner,
every one of which must be distinguished by the different letters M,
m, (u,, &c, when the latent or slumbering P contained in S will be
awakened or developed. But in order to use P disenthralled from
S, so as to obtain a certain power, (that of igniting) contained in it
and not yet enough developed or disenthralled from S, in M, m, |u,
fee, you are obliged to continue the same process six times more,
in the same manner as you have done twelve times. Is it not
clear that the power P is not only developed from S, but that this
is done in the inverse ratio between W and P, or between the
weight and power of S ; since from the billionth part of one grain
a power is developed which was not observable in the one-hun-
dredth, one-ten-thousandth, &tc. part of the diminished weight, and
much less in the original weight, or in the first W of S. That in
order to obtain the proper first developement of P, it has been neces-
sary to repeat the same process with one fractional part of the M,
m, M-, &.c, and ninety-nine times as much of the menstruum s, proves
already the correctness of our assertion, and a fortiori this is correct,
when from the first developements until the acquisition of the de-
sired end, many more additional processes, instituted exactly in
the same manner, were indispensably required. The subterfuge of
"greater mildness," the terms "virtue" "potenz," or similar vague
expressions used by Hahnemann and his disciples, cannot impair the
clear conception of a power indefinitely increased in the manner
just stated. If it was Hahnemann's intention to give a weaker
dose after the developement of the drug-virtue has once begun, for
instance, the thousandth part of one grain, it would have been sufli-
cient to divide accordingly one grain of the last mixture, possessed
of the desired developed virtue. What other reason can be assigned

183

for repeating the process so often, except that the virtue in M, m, (x,
&c. was not sufficiently developed, or, to speak plainly, that the
power was not strong enough ? Must not this ridiculous nonsense
of the homoeopathists, already so striking, be considered still more
so, if they were to assert, that the object of their repeated dilutions,
shakings and triturations, is to develope always less of P, and thus
gradually to approach the infinite minus or nothing 9

The infinite divisibility of all matter does not involve Hahne-
mann's conception, that the limits of all matter must be no matter
at all, or, according to the dynamistical theory, that all matter
must be considered only as the product of two powers ; — the gene-
ral attractive and repulsive powers of nature, similar, but opposed
in their determined direction, and therefore restricting one ano-
ther, so as to produce matter by this mutual restriction only. This
opinion, so much advocated by Hahnemann, and superficially al-
luded to in some passages of his works, though contradicting his
whole doctrine, will never be proved satisfactorily, since in physi-
cal nature we never find matter without power, or power without
matter, and the adoption of a superphysical power, though inti-
mately connected with our higher existence and destination, with
our happiness on earth and our hopes of the future, belongs to
another sphere.

If therefore the author of the Concise View states, in the sense
of his master, (see p. 20), that drugs not only become divested of
all qualities belonging to matter by homceopathical dilutions and
triturations, but are transformed into mere virtues, which, accord-
ing to our argument, must always act inversely to the original
weight of the drug : then these developed drug-virtues would, by
this property alone, appear as novelties, since we know of no
other power in physical nature depending upon, or at least con-
nected with matter, as all are, which act in this manner : and
even the action of all matters, erroneously considered as imponde-
rabilia, such as light, caloric, and electricity, depend in a direct
ratio upon their measurable quantities.

Wherever we can observe the action of one substance upon
another, we will always find them acting in a definite peculiar
manner, which is alike in all their quantities, and which differs
only according to the direct ratio of the latter. This absolutely
direct ratio, it is true, becomes essentially changed by the reac-

184

tion of the vital powers, and cannot be considered as always de-
pending solely on the changes in the weight of the substances : it
forms, however, an essential part of the total action originally re-
sultingfromboth, viz. from the definite weight andthevital reaction.

Hahnemann asserts, on h 282 of his Organon, that the arith-
metical proportion is not applicable to the effect of drugs, since
eight drops of any medicine cannot be considered, in regard to its
effect on the living body, as four times two, but only perhaps as
twice two. But he palpably contradicts this assertion, by his re-
peated direction always to administer the thirtieth developed vir-
tue of his drug : and besides, he is only partly correct, in con-
founding the absolute and relative differences of the dose of a
drug ; for when it is first applied to two persons of the same age,
sex, constitution, etc. in short, under the same circumstances, the
absolute dose must unquestionably be correct, and eight drops
will always exert an effect as strong again as four. But under
different circumstances, among which we may particularly advert
to the repeated application of the same drug during the same dis-
ease, or by long habit, eight drops of it may not longer be equal
to twice four, but may perhaps decrease in their operation to only
= 7 = 6 or even = ; according to the number of its repetitions
and to other circumstances connected with the individual case ; as
we have already adverted to above, in defence of the necessity of
possessing a variety of drugs belonging to the same class, though
they apparently act altogether quite alike ; as we may, for in-
stance, apply with considerable advantage, in some nervous dis-
eases, a small quantity of one kind of wine, if no effect is caused
by another similar, and even weaker kind.

Though the opinion, that the specific quality of drugs becomes
quite changed under different circumstances, has caused many er-
rors in practical medicine, and though this peculiarity is considered
by Hahnemann as one of the principal arguments of his doctrine,
still the contrary of his assertions will be easily proved, by exa-
mining more closely some instances quoted by him and his ad-
herents.

We have seen that Hahnemann and Dr. Hering consider the
cure of frost-bitten limbs by means of snow, and the application of
heat to burns, as very effectual, and as of the most striking facts in
favour of homoeopathia. We have also tried to prove, by the
principles of rational medicine, the untenable ground on which

185

these experiences rest. Caloric presents, however, some other
phenomena, which not less apparently confirm the erroneous opi-
wion, that its effects on the 'living body are entirely different, or
even opposite, according to its different degrees. Every one must
admit, that we are entirely ignorant of absolute cold and heat, and
are acquainted only with those degrees which we can ascertain. —
Should the influence of cold and warmth on the human body be
really so opposite, these different effects must of course become
most prominent in their greatest known extremes. But as both
these extremes produce the same effect on the living animal body,
we may justly presume, that wherever the lower degrees of
warmth and cold prove to be contrary in their effects, this contra-
riety is to be explained in a manner not discordant with their ab-
solute physical identity, but rather modified only by the specific
laws of organized life. Now we observe, that one of the highest
degrees of heat which we possess, the white heat of iron*, or the
focus of a burning glass, produces the same effect on the body
as one of the highest degrees of cold, frozen mercury; both exci-
ting, if applied to the living body, violent inflammation and im-
mediate mortification.*

Not content with the mere observation of these identical phe-
nomena, we may easily find the true cause of them in the laws al-
ways obvious in caloric, viz. that it tends to be distributed in all
bodies equally, and in proportion to their specific capacity for it.
The white-hot iron,, imparting at once a larger quantity of caloric
than the living part in contact with it can distribute so quickly,
causes inflammation in this spot, which subsequently mortifies ; —
the frozen mercury does the same, but only in another direction :
it absorbs the caloric so violently from the place of its contact,
that an immense quantity of caloric suddenly rushes from the con-
tiguous and all the other parts of the living body, to bal-
ance the loss of the caloric absorbed by the frozen mercury : the
excessive quantity of caloric, thus momentarily accumulated at the
points of contact, produces the same effect, and causes the spot to
inflame: this spot likewise, by its great degree of over-excitement,
passes quickly to the state of death, or mortification. If the dif-

* It appears that the ancients had a clear conception of the identical action of
the highest degrees of heat and cold, since we. find in Pliny, Horace, and Cicero, the
expression " k frigus unt."

M

186

ference between the free caloric contained in two bodies is not
very great, and consequently if the tendency to a free distribution
of it is not excessive, the colder one jfpplied will always abstract
caloric from the warmer body, but less quickly than where the
difference is greater. This fact is confirmed in many other natu-
ral phenomena : for instance, in the two electricities, where also
the effect, in combining them, will be greater or less, in propor-
tion to the difference of the degree of plus E in the one and of
minus E in the other. — It generally appears a law of nature, that
wherever two opposite powers, or two opposite directions of the
same power act, the rapidity of their mutual tendency'to combine,
and to restore the disturbed equilibrium is always in direct propor-
tion to their different degrees*.

The profession formerly considered cold an astringent, on ac-
count of its physical contracting quality; afterwards as a stimulant,
and now, with more propriety, as the contrary, or as a powerful
antiphlogistic. As a mere astringent it will never acton the tissues
of the living body, because no physical power can act absolutely

* We find but few similar physical phenomena apparently contradicting this law,
which depends on causes not yet satisfactorily ascertained; since the same cause, when
reduced to its lower degree, cannot alone produce what is generally effected hy its
higher degrees. Thus it is observed, that when the mercury in the thermometer has
fallen to the freezing point of water, an increase of cold causes it to rise a little for a
short time. Though this may be partly explained by the cold, contracting unequally
the mercury and the glass, yet it is remarkable, that all things having been equal be-
fore the level of the mercury had reached the freezing point, its falling was always in
a direct proportion to the diminished degree of warmth. Water, as stated by modern
experimentalists, does not present this contradictory prope/ty, but augments in its
density always in direct proportion to the degree of cold ; it appears, therefore, still
more extraordinary, that water evaporates on white-hot iron less than at the lower
degrees of heat ; and though naturalists have explained this by the influence of
electro-magnetism which becomes developed, the fact that alcohol also evaporates
more at some lower degrees of warmth than at higher ones, also remains unexplained.
These experiments, which we have not seen quoted by Dr. Metcalf, in his New The-
ory of Terrestrial Magnetism, just published, — in connexion with other facts, espe-
cially with these, that magnetism is not communicated uniformly like caloric, and does
not impart its flnid or magnetic power to bodies susceptible for it, etc.— -may form a
part of the many objections to his theory, to which more competent critics may ad-
vert. Many phenomena, however, attending the origin and cure of diseases may fa-
vour, if not the absolute identity of caloric and magnetism, (which proposition once
admitted, would likewise imply the identity of caloric and electricity) but, at least,
their mutual dependance, or their always contemporary action. — When considering
that habit or custom plays so great a part in the living animal economy, being one of
the most prominent prerogatives of organized life, it appears highly interesting that
the magnet is the only one of all unorganized substances, which likewise depends on
habit or custom, though generally in a proportion inverse to the influence of habit in
organized living bodies, the magnetic power (reaction) being gradually increased by
habit. This similarity may hereafter open a large field for some interesting physiolo-
gical researches, as it may best explain the mysterious phenomena of animal mag-
netism ; much more so, since animal magnetism is likewise the only agent which in-
creases in its action hy habit.

187

on it so long as it lives or is capable of any reaction, though the
tela cellulosa as the most simple, least sensible and most veo-e-
tative tissue of the living animal body, appears to be most affected
by the astringent powers of cold ; but the higher and lower de-
grees of cold will operate sometimes as antiphlogistic, and some-
times as stimulant, according to its absolute degree, and also to
the degree of heat of the part to which it is applied. If the part
be very hot from genuine or plastic inflammatien, ice may easily
injure, though a less intense degree of cold may be beneficial, be-
cause when ice is applied, more caloric goes to the part, which al-
ready superabounds in it, than is in the same time directly absorbed
by the ice, whereas a less intense cold will absorb the heat of the
inflamed part without that inconvenience. But if the part be only
very hot from a large local developement of caloric, not depending on
a genuine inflammation, as is the case in all pure asthenic or ady-
namic fevers, typhus, &c, or from a tendency to an inorganic
chemical decomposition, as is obvious in the last stages of putrid
fevers, ice may prove highly salutary, by operating as an indirect
powerful stimulant, and the lower degrees of cold may prove de-
trimental, its direct noxious influence being not overbalanced by its
indirect stimulus. This might become more evident in consider-
ing that the intense heat perceptible in patients dangerously ill
with typhus, and particularly with putrid fever, (the very causus)
does not depend on the vital developement of caloric, attending all
plastic processes, and therefore superabundantly increased, as in all
genuine inflammations, but upon an opposite and rather 'passirc
process, predominant in all those kinds of diseases, as far as
life admits of a tendency to inorganic decomposition of the solids
and fluids, by which caloric also becomes always developed ; this
may be proved by the characteristic heat of the patient, (calor mor-
dax) which will be observed in these diseases only, but never in
those where the vital powers are not so intensely reduced, and
much less in any genuine inflammatory affection. In typhus
fever, with dangerous affections of the brain, oelirium ferox or
taciturnum, sopor, &c., and in which the cautious but. energetic
treatment with stimulants, revulsives, &c. is generally indicated,
fomentations of the head with cold water will be of more injury
than benefit to the patient, whereas bladders filled with pounded
ice are a powerful remedy and has saved the lives of many such pa-
tients; because in these cases it does not operate as an antiphlo-

188

gistic, as is thought generally, but as a powerful indirect stimulant
upon this centre of the nervous reaction, the brain; promoting a
larger afflux of caloric to it. which, by encouraging a salutary re-
action, amply overbalances the direct deduction of stimulus by cold.
The manner in which caloric acts on organized living bodies,
offers highly instructive instances, particularly adapted for the satis-
factory explanation of many phenomena in animal life, and as
the great astronomer discovered the laws of gravitation from the
fall of an apple, so the reflecting physiologist may, from the few
remnants of life contained in a frozen apple, which are revived by
snow and the gradual application of warmth, but destroyed for
ever by its higher degrees, derive results highly important to theo-
retical as well as practical medicine.*

* The explanation of the action of caloric on the living organized body contained
in these pages, relieves us from further objections to this argument which Hahnemann
alleges in support of his maxim, "similia similibus curantur," saying in ^61 of his
Organon ; that the one hand bathed in warm water is at first warmer than the other,
but afterwards if taken out from it feels colder than the other, inconsequence of the
after-operation of the warm water, and so vice versa if put first into cold water. It is
astonishing that a man who pretends to reform or rather to establish the healing art,
should be so ignorant as to quote such instances in support of his doctrine. If the
thermometer at the temperature of 80 deg. is immersed in cold water of 30 deg.
and it falls to this degree ; can it be well called an after-operation of warmth, or if
taken out of water at 30 deg. and exposed to the temperature of the atmosphere of
70 deg. it rises again to 70 deg., can this rising of 40 deg. be called an after-operation
of cold] The feeling of cold after the hand is taken from warm water will, besides
the cause quoted by us above, be still more perceptible, because the increased warmth
has, according to the law of organized living bodies, " ubi irritatio ibi affluxus humo-
rum" attracted more fluids, blood, &c, and increases afterwards by the more opened
pores, the evaporation, which abstracting caloric, must naturally produce the sensation
of cold ; whereas when the hand has been before in cold water and is afterwards exposed
to a warmer medium, it will increase the sensation of warmth' by the increased ex-
citability for all stimulants, and therefore also for warmth. The detrimental action of
heat and cold depends much on the state of the person and on the state of the sur-
rounding atmosphere. Weakly persons are unquestionably very much injured by cold,
and the use of cold water, now recommended as a remedy in many diseases, and as a
preventive against them, produces a great many evils, as do many similar recommen-
dations given under the erroneous impression that they are more congenial to the
natural state of men, which has long since passed away. Van Helmont says very
correctly, "frigidum non est principium vitale sed oxtinctionis." Many cases of
dyspepsia, rheumatism, &c, and particularly of cough, which turns to consumption,
arise frequently from cold water, though sometimes, but rarely, ice may prove a
remedy in diseases of the stomach and bowels, for the reason mentioned above when
speaking of ice in CQrebral-typhus. Hahnemann in his Organon, and also in his Ma-
teria Medica, Vol. IT., asserts, that when a person much heated feels cold by
spirituous drinks, and hotter from cold drinks, it depends likewise on a homreopathical
action of heat and cold. The fact is true, and would, if more strictly observed, and not
abused, prevent many serious and even fatal diseases. It depends however on
those laws of organized life, according to which the stimulus must be always propor-
tionate to the degree of excitability, if the vital actions shall not be disturbed, &c, and
also on the fact best explained by them, that all extremes, if they follow one another
immediately, injure and can even destroy the structure of all bodies, but particularly
organized living ones, since the equilibrium of the vital powers, easily sustained or
restored during a gradual change, cannot be established so quickly in a sudden one. It
is therefore also very erroneous to consider merely the sudden transition from warmth
to cold obnoxious; the reverse is not Ipss so, and many dangerous diseases of children,

189

The operations of many other agents and drugs, producing as
well as curing sickness, according to the difference of their dose,
are however to be considered the same. A slight cold, for instance
may check the secretion of the Schneiderian membrane and cause
a dry catarrh ; one which is severer at the commencement, or fol-
lows the first, may excite this membrane to a profuse secretion ; and
a similar but more severe affection will check the secretion again
from the same cause, but being more intense than in both the pre-
vious cases, it may generate by over-excitement, an inflammation
extending to the throat, the trachea and even to the lungs. The
cause of all these different states is always the same and acts in the
same manner, but either under different circumstances orin different
degrees of strength, and nobody can reasonably assert, that in the
third degree of the action just mentioned, the same cause had cured
homoeopathically what a minor degree in the second stage of the
same disease had previously produced. As instances of simple
drugs, we may cite Rhubarb, Ipecacuanha and Opium. Rhubarb
is acknowledged to be a purgative in large doses, but small doses
of it are beneficial in looseness of the bowels. It is not yet ascer-
tained, but we are confident, that many other purgatives, especi-
ally those which are considered as tonics, would do the same under
certain circumstances, if used in doses small enough in proportion
to their purgative quality, without regard to the homoeopathic

particularly croup, inflammation of the brain, &c, arise from their approach to the fire
when they have been before exposed to cold air. Cold can be applied without injury
only in a very few diseases, though sometimes very desperate cases are cured by it,
especially by alternately sudden changesof temperature; as all agents which are capable
of doing great injury, are also sometimes of great benefit; thus for instance, tic doulou-
reux (prosopalgia,) is sometimes cured merely by sudden alternate applications of hot
water and ice, though this disease is so painful and obstinate that such patients submit
to the most painful surgical operations, rather than to suffer the pains, which however
frequently resist all medical and surgical assistance. Persons who are accustomed
to sudden changes of temperature will bear them much easier without injury, and are
much more protected against many morbid affections than others, because the particular
influence of habit belongs to the most prominent and characteristical properties of
organized living bodies. It should therefore be considered as one of the most impor-
tant object s of a judicious physical education of children, to accustom them, from
their earliest infancy, to alternate changes by baths gradually, with other circum-
spective precautions. The Russian baths, now so fashionable in Europe, may there-
fore be very much recommended for young and healthy persons, to harden them to the
vicissitudes of atmospheric temperature, and may also be considered as a powerful
remedy in some inveterate chronic diseases, in which a torpor of reaction prevails, as
in gout, some nervous affections, &c; provided there are no local affections of internal
organs, especially those where plethora predominates ; but when used without due pre-
caution, they sometimes prove highly obnoxious and even fatal. This is easily ex-
plained when we reflect that even lifeless bodies, possessing the greatest cohesion,
for instance a large piece of flint, which may have resisted all influences in nature for
thousands of years, falls immediately into dust, when after exposure to a high degree
of heat, it is thrown into cold water. How much more will man be affected by a sud-
den sequel of both extremes, if not .very healthy, strong, and accustomed to it.

190

maxim. These different and contrary actions may be easily
explained physiologically in the following manner, without the aid
of homoeopathia. and rather in opposition to its maxims, viz. ; in a
large dose they over-excite the mucous membrane of the intestines,
and the subsequent relaxation produces a larger excretion of fluids,
already attracted by the increased specific stimulus ; whereas, in a
reasonable small dose, their primary effect remains weaker and the
natural consequences of the over-excitement and relaxation men-
tioned, are not only absent, but, on the contrary, if such a relaxa-
tion has previously existed, as is the case in a protracted diarrhoea,
it will be diminished and cured. A relatively small dose of rhu-
barb, or of another purgative, might always produce costiveness by
that reason also, because, before it reaches the large intestines, it
operates on the stomach and small intestines, their nerves, &c,
where, as a slight stimulus, it produces an antagonistical reac-
tion, and checks the secretion in the lower parts of the intestinal
tube, in a manner discordant with Hahnemann's rude conceptions
of this very allopathic mode, and more similar to Rasori's theory of
contra-stimulus. Ipecacuanha also, like other emetics, if given in
very small doses, may check a hyperemesis, which has resisted the
best remedies known, because, as is ascertained by the interesting
experiments of Magendie, the action of emetics depends particularly
on their influence upon the par vagum and its continuance in, and
ultimate connexion with, the nerves of the stomach. — In a mor-
bid distemper, however, of this section of the nervous system,
causing; a particular morbid reaction of the stomach, small doses
of Ipecacuanha will check vomiting, as well as many substances
which otherwise would have checked it, will increase it. Obstinate
cases of vomiting or purging will sometimes be quickly cured by
sufficiently powerful emetics or cathartics, after all other remedies
have failed, simply because they remove not a remote, but a proxi-
mate cause ; for instance the remnants of indigestible food, which
nature alone could not remove on account of her too tardy and
weak action ; by every slight and useless exertion, the evil still in-
creases, while on the contrary, by the aid of a powerful remedy,
causing a very brisk reaction, the patient is cured by removing
the material cause. — In all these cases we purposely abstracted
from the indirect removal of such a disease, by changing only the
form of the present state, or by substituting a new order of things
which, though aggravated, does not allow the prominent cause

191

and its symptom to exist any longer. — Opium in small doses is an
excellent remedy in looseness of the bowels, but large doses of it
may produce diarrhoea by over-exciting the ganglions, nerves, he.
of the intestinal canal, which therefore is very difficult to cure, as
are all diseases which originate fromrepeated over-excitements, and
particularly, all diseases following habitual intemperance in spi-
rituous drinks. A small dose of opium, as we have already hinted,
may, however, render radical relief in obstinate costiveness, and
act as a purgative where all drugs considered as purgatives have
failed, by removing the nervous anaesthesia, or the particular dis-
temper, (paresthesia) which prevents the natural functions from
being performed, and renders also cathartics ineffectual.

To prove that influences belonging to the same class, or even
identical, may cause quite opposite actions, we refer also to mental
influences, which merely differ in their strength and not in their
nature, or depend also upon individual predisposition. In this
manner the relief which the slightly affected heart feels in shedding
tears, is denied to the sufferer of a greater misfortune or when
possessed of more sensitive and deeper feelings. — In all these
instances no one of sound conception will find any thing similar
to a homoeopathic action of exceedingly small doses opposite to
their action in comparatively very large ones, but all phenomena
minutely corrrespond with the principles of sound physiology and
rational medicine.

Sometimes the great influence of a small dose, and the efficacy
of a comparatively very large one, solely depend upon the still
more evident local vital reaction. Thus a few grains ofarsenicor
of any strong poison may be more fatal than an ounce of the same
substance taken at a dose, only because the large dose excites so
powerful and quick a reaction of the stomach, that there is then
more chance of the rejection of all its contents, than when only a
few grains are taken, which might sit on the stomach and destroy
life. Even on superficial reference to such a fact, nobody would
think that arsenic is to be considered as acting in the inverse ratio
of its bulk and weight. Every one will admit that one ounce of
arsenic divided into grains will poison, without any particular
virtue developed by an homoeopathic manipulation, and that the
true nature of this substance, though operating more uncondition-
ally than many, is not in the least changed by the diiference of

192

the dose itself, but that its effect depends on particular conditions.
All the substances which do not act mechanically, operate on the
living animal body only relatively, and though they operate as
remedies in direct proportion to their quantity and quality, they
never act unconditionally and absolutely, as Hahnemann asserts in
respect to his virtues developed from drugs. We may say
with propriety that, excepting the primitive eternal cause of all
nature, no power acts absolutely and unconditionally ; but that all
are wisely counterbalanced and checked by one another, and that
this produces principally the immense variety of actions in the
universe. Every man therefore who believes or asserts that a
power, developed by him, acts absolutely and unconditionally,
the same under all circumstances, and without being check-
ed or altered by the influence of any natural power, may justly
be considered as destitute of common sense, and of all natural
religious feeling. It is evident that, if this bold and often repeat-
ed assertion of Hahnemann be true, we cannot conceive why,
among many other inconsistencies of a similar kind, Hahnemann
makes the salutary operations of his developed drug-virtues to de-
pend upon the absence of all remedial influences to which the
patient may be exposed? why he acknowledges the influence of
idiosynocrasy and habit? why he so frequently prescribes antidotes
in cases where homoeopathic doses acted improperly or too violent-
ly? why he cautions his followers against undertaking the treat-
ment of a patient who has previously been illtreated by an allopa-
thist? and why, in publishing his "great truth," he himself could
ever admit the many failures of his earlier treatment for upwards
of twenty years, which, as he himself avows, had induced him to
labor twelve years upon another treatment of all chronic diseases — -
all of which palpably contradict the absolute and unconditional
operations of his drug-virtues, though he continues the same as-
sertions in his later works? Is it not the greatest nonsense to sti-
pulate any condition for a power said to act always absolutely and
unconditionally ?*

"Go teach eternal wisdom how to rule,
"Then drop into thyself and be a fool." — Pope.

* As a specimen of the many revolting expressions in regard to the infallibility of
their doctrine, with which not only Hahnemann's works, but also those of his disciples
abound ; we quote the remarks of Dr. Kopp, who states in his work above mentioned,
page 487, thai Dr. Hartlaub and Dr. Trinks in their Materia Medica, and also in
Archiv. f. h. Heilk. Vol. II., No. 3, publicly declare in regard to the infallible cure of
hydrophobia by the homoeopathic method, " that each unfortunate issue of this

193

With regard to the greater mildness claimed by Hahnemann
and the author of the Concise View on page 14, for the homoeo-

" shocking disease is always to be ascribed to the attending physician," though we
know of no instance in which their treatment has succeeded in hydrophobia, but many
where it has failed.

We are told by good authority, that in an American city, some homceopathists have
recently collected the saliva of a rabid dog, probably for no other purpose than to
administer it in hydrophobia. We hope they will not be so crazy as to venture its
application on healthy persons, for ascertaining the validity of their conceptions about
drug-sickness, nor to administer it as a prophylactic in any case, where a person is
bitten by a rabid dog. Both, but the former particularly, should be considered as
murderous experiments, since according to many instances on record, persons wound-
ed by a dog unquestionably rabid, have escaped without danger. As a homoeopathic,
or in these cases more particularly termed isopalhic remedy against hydrophobia
itself, the thirtieth dilution of one drop of hydrophobic matter will probably do no
positive injury, but would be highly objectionable, merely as causing the neglect of
other important measures prescribed by the profession. It appears to us very incon-
sistent for homceopathists still to trust to the hydrophobic virus, after the "great
truih" of their great genius should have taught them that hydrophobia is particu-
larly entitled to all the singular privileges of the itch, and will certainly be radically
cured by smelling of a sugar grain as large as a hempseed, and moistened with the
thirtieth dilution of table salt. — Sometimes the contemptible " learned lumber"
would aid them a little. In this case, for instance, they would then know that there
are many reasons for believing that the hydrophobia of animals depends on the twin-
brother of itch, viz. on alopecia or leprosis, which is particularly common to the
genus canis, to the fox, wolf, &c.

We do not despair of the curability of this tremendous scourge, though we must
candidly confess that allopathists, rational as well as empirical, have hitherto succeeded
so seldom, that it may justly be still declared incurable by them. In these cases
modern medicine has likewise tried in vain to apply its all-curing antiphlogistic treat-
ment to the utmost extreme. Bleeding, addeliquium, was frequently prescribed, but
to our knowledge without one instance of a positive benefit. We should think that
without a chemical destruction or neutralization of such a violent and unassimilable
virus, and without an energetic though cautious support of the vital powers, either to
subdue its effects or to convey it to the primarily affected place, where it can be
discharged by die excretory organs, all the exertions of the art must prove fruitless,
and that therefore, so long as we do not possess a distinct antidote, the method which
tends to prostrate to the utmost all vital actions, must be considered the worst of all.
The inferences drawn from the inflammation of the par vagurn and of the o'ther
nerves and ganglia of the neck, the throat. &c, as derived from some post mortem
examinations of hydrophobic persons, cannot reasonably justify such an extreme anti-
phlogistic treatment, even if we were certain that the inflammatory state should have
exisfed at all, or at a still higher degree during life. It would be difficult to compre-
hend how an inflammation, existing in the finest nets of the capillary arteries, veins and
lymphatics, could be subdued by an abstraction of blood, not only on accountof the phy-
sical laws of capillarity, but also by the violent stimulus of such a heterogeneous virus.
Even admitting the truth of modern physiological experiments and also of observations
in diseases, that by large bleedings the resorption is promoted more than by any other
remedy ; we would ask, is it probable that such a pernicious virus will be resorbed by
the vasa absorbentia, then pass through the whole circulation, and then again be de-
posited in a secretory and excretory organ, — which processes the virus must neces-
sarily undergo before it can be removed, — without doing, if possible, still more injury,
than when remaining in the said places'! The analogy drawn from the benefits
generally derived from an antiphlogistic treatment in infectious exanthematic diseases
like small-pox, measles, &c. is not applicable to hydrophobia, since in these diseases
the cutaneous inflammation being more or less considerably extended, and the func-
tion of such a large emunctory organ, as the whole skin, is much restricted, the anti-
phlogistic treatment is not only more necessary, but this must be also of a more
prominent influence ; farther, in these exanthematic diseases the virus is more diffused
over the whole reproductive system, and becomes gradually assimilated by the differ-
ent stacres of the disease ; and lastly, this method of treatment proves injurious in
those cases also if carried too far, or if the disease is complicated with nervous affec»

25

194

pathically developed drug-virtues, we would further remark, thai
if his statement be correct, it involves consistently the assertion,

tions, &c. The great similarity between hydrophobia and the most dangerous and
fatal nervous affections, particularly trismus and tetanus ; the fact that distinct
symptoms of spontaneous hydrophobia are sometimes seen as accessories in important
nervous affections, for instance in typhus and intermittent fever, &c, favour the
opinion that hydrophobia is a most violent disease of the nervous system, seated pro-
bably most prominently in the upper part of the spinal marrow and the medulla
oblongata, the canalis cerebro-spinalis Magendii, the ganglion intercaroticum, (?) &c.
The attention of the profession should therefore be particularly directed to those
remedies which act principally on the whole nervous system, and particularly on the
spinal marrow, rather than to any other mode, provided the utmost perseverance in.
the judicious local treatment of the wound by stimulants and suppuratives, which
should always be regarded as the principal object, is carefully observed.

The treatment of the older schools with belladonna, meloe proscsrabaeus, canthar-
ides, &c, would, perhaps, have succeeded better if attended with the proper local,
treatment of the wound, and the simultaneous use of large doses of mercury. The
powerful alcaloides discovered by modern chemistry in the articles mentioned, and in
other dru is, asVeratrine, particularly their endermic application, open a large field for
trials, wh ch, if duly and perseveringly continued, may grant us the great victory over
this scandalum medicorum. We may justly attribute the failure hitherto attending
the use of these drugs, in their external exhibition, to the erroneous opinion that it
makes no difference in what manner they are applied externally, and* that the dilated
wound is the best place co apply them; this, however, is not the proper endermic treat-
ment, and contradicts the known fact, that the absorbent vessels and the nerves are
generally more numerous and active on the surface of the skin, immediately below
the epidermis, than in the depth of the muscles ; it is also evident that the influence
of the drugs is either frustrated by the torpor or morbid process of the primitive le-
sion, or will be destroyed by the necessary dilatation of the wound and its suppuration,
by which they are also soon removed. It is obvious that both objects cannot be at-
tained in the same place, and that, as the local suppuration is intended to remove the
virus, the endermic remedy cannot enter the system by absorption on the same spot
simultaneously. — Why has not the profession continued to try hot vapour baths, (108°
F.) by which Dr. Brisson intended to kill himself, but was cured by them, when the
symptoms of hydrophobia were already developed ? Ten years ago Dr. B. commu-
nicated this and many similar statements of brilliant cures to the Academie des
Sciences at Paris ; such a mode is, moreover, very consistent with rational princi-
ples ; among which we may particularly advert to the fact, that idiopathic hy-
drophobia affects exclusively animals which do not perspire by the skin, and yet it is
totally neglected. We venture also to suggest that electricity, and particularly the
intense galvanism of a Voltaic pile, might be tried with success, when persevered in,,
since it would offer the most efficacious means for revulsing the morbid process, and
perhaps the virus itself, from the affected parts of the spinal marrow, the nerves and
their ganglions, to the place of its original seat, and possibly, destroy there best chemi-
cally the hydrophobic matter. If even many of these trials fail, the profession should
not act as is common with many remedies newly recommended, and after considering
them as all-curing medicines for a short time, reject them too soon ; but should con-
tinue the experiments in other places, under the correct supposition, that we know as
yet but little about the functional and sympathetical connexions of the nervous system,
particularly of the immense variety of its diseases, and that at the distance of only halfa
geometrical line, or still less, an experiment might succeed when it had failed so near
this spot. — Our opposers, the homceopathists, might perhaps conclude from our objec-
tions made at the beginning of this note, and from many other expressions in these
pages, where we confess our great regard to the smallest quantities of a virus or of a re-
medy, that we act with inconsistency or duplicity in being directly in favour of their
whimsical doses of drugs, though directly opposed to them. But every rational phy-
sician will be in favor of small doses under particular circumstances, and when they are
within the bounds of reason; so loo every one will admit that an inconsiderably small
power added to a large one may be the principal cause of an effect, but that this does
not justify us in considering the small power as absolutely larger than it really is. A
vat of a capacity of thousands of hogsheads may overflow by one drop only, but does,
this imply that one drop alone is sufficient to fill it?

195

fchat the drug has become changed into another substance, since it is
not proper to say, that one-eighth of a grain of opium acts more
mildly than a whole grain of it when taken at once, but only that its
specific action will be less, when compared with another similar sub-
stance, for instance, with the extract of Henbane (Hyoscyamus ni-
ger, L.) ; we can only say this acts more mildly, though no phy-
sician would doubt that a sufficiently large quantity of the latter
will prove more injurious than a very small quantity of opium.
Thus also nobody would say that the electric fluid acts on the hu-
man body more mildly than light, because the former developed
from a small piece of sealing-wax produces no effect, but intense
light destroys the sight: — such minute, though not subtle distinc-
tions, materially affect the principles of practical medicine, and
hence, in so important a science, we should leave no expression of
that kind without a clear conception, nor should vague productions
of the imagination be confounded with abstract ideas and the re-
sults of true experience, on which all medicine rests.

If Hahnemann had offered the profession new and unknown
drugs for definite diseases, and had stated that, according to repeated
experiments instituted by him with the greatest accuracy, and even
under the injunction that such drugs should not be given in larger
doses than the billionth, or a similar fraction of a grain, and that
the grain must be divided exactly in such or such a peculiar man-
ner, &c, no one could, with propriety, object a priori, and the
correctness of these statements would depend upon fair trials. If
they were proved to be correct, by repeated and careful experiments^
then another question would arise, whether they could or could
not be explained by acknowledged laws of nature. When, at a
minute scrutiny, they are found to be totally at variance with such
laws and with those of the human intellect, still no man of sound
judgment would forthwith adopt one or more supernatural powers
or miracles as the causes of these phenomena, since he would
be reminded, that at least in this world, all natural phenomena
depend on fixed laws engrafted upon nature by the infinite wisdom
of her eternal Creator, and that many phenomena, which appeared
to our ancestors as supernatural, are now referred with mathemati-
cal exactitude to definite laws, depending upon or intimately con-
nected with the universal laws of nature; he would accept with
gratitude such discoveries, and confessing his ignorance of the na-
tural cause, he would feel in duty bound to use them wherever
it appeared to him necessary or salutary. But if we are told by

196

Hahnemann, that drugs, which have been used daily for centuries
by thousands of trustworthy physicians, and in different countries
by grains, drachms and ounces, in powders, infusions, decoctions,
(fee, not only without any injury, and without observing one of
the many symptoms which Hahnemann and his followers pre-
tend always to observe, but frequently with the most salutary
effect ; if we are told that the same drugs have always proved de-
trimental, if given in larger doses than the many thousand-mil-
lionth part of one grain, ever since Hahnemann has pursued a mode
of treatment different from that which he himself, for upwaids of
thirty years had followed on a much larger scale than most other
practitioners; if further the same man tells us, that substances,
daily used by ounces or pounds, by men and animals as indis-
pensable for their life and health, become transmuted into violent
drugs, of which even the smallest imaginable fraction of one
grain may produce great injury or benefit, and that such fractions
of one grain of a substance obtain this power by certain processes,
hitherto also justly considered incapable of changing in the least
the property belonging to any substance ; — then we have full cause
to suspect the grossest errors or premeditated imposition, especially
when all these statements come from a man like Samuel Hahne-
mann, who has been guilty of the greatest charlatanism and in-
tentional falsehoods.* His trials with simple drugs on healthy

* The history of man presents us with many instances, where great discoveries
have been disregarded, ridiculed and even persecuted, although made by truly great
men, who have advanced their age for centuries; the history of all sciences proves
that truth, like the noble fruit, requires to be carefully cultivated and fostered, whereas
error, credulity and superstition, like rank weeds, spontaneously and luxuriantly
spread over the fields. The same instructive source sadly teaches us, that man-
kind generally weighed truth and falsehood, not according to their intrinsic worth,
but only to the majority of votes, or the number of years which they have lasted, quite
unmindful, that as lead will never change into gold by the decision of any large majo-
rity or by any length of time, just so a falsehood will never become true. But, never-
theless no scientific fanaticism ever ventured so far, as to compare the grossest whims
and absurdities proclaimed so palpably by Hahnemann, with the discoveries and merits
of a Galileo and Columbus. Ii would be tedious to enlarge more on this subject
here, by further quotations from many places in Hahnemann's works, where he states
that all drugs hitherto used in common doses, act absolutely as poisons and are harm-
less only once in many hundred cases. Well educated, intelligent and honest pro.
fessional men who read his works attentively, will find our statement confirmed ;
and any body can easily imagine how such assertions must naturally appear to men,
who, beside their study of practical medicine, have for many years daily used the same
drugs in the largest doses with unquestionable benefit, both when diseased themselves
and with their patients, and who have also seen, in many cases, the insufficiency and
failures of the homoeopathic treatment, and the injury which is frequently caused by
the neglect of homceopathists, in not administering proper and timely aid. The man-
ner in which Hahnemann and his adherents endeavour to defend such failures is in-
deed exceedingly ridiculous and contemptible, as the instances already quoted by us
above will have sufficiently proved; but, nevertheless, the following is worth remark-
ing: Hahnemann, in his Materia Medica, Vol. III. p. 6, where he challenges his

197

persons, though they are not of his invention and have led him to
the most superstitious and absurd conclusions, may, nevertheless
be interesting to the profession, if impartially instituted in the sense
suggested above, and deserve therefore to be continued even with
many of such drugs as are condemned by him. His maxim, similia
similibus curantur, and even his marvelous itch-doctrine, with all
its gross absurdities and contradictions, might at least admit some
conjectures, which do not differ so widely from other fanciful theo-
ries and suggestions recorded in the history of medicine, though
never expressed with such a total disregard of truth, with such
unblushing self-conceit, such a contempt of all other experience
and with such an unparalleled charlatanism in the promises of a

never-failing medical omniscience and certainty of cure- but

Hahnemann's assertions about the virtues developed from simple
drugs by manipulations of his invention, and his statements of
what has been observed only by him and his followers, oblige us

disciples and followers to expose homceopathia to public contempt, by placing before
the public all the particulars legally confirmed, if his prescriptions, though minutely ob-
served, had failed, cunningly adds in italics, "but have also all other remedial
" influences removed from the patient." It is evident that by this condition
alpne no failure whatever of a hornoeopathist can possibly oe proved, since, as we have
seen above, according to his doctrine, every thing may be considered as a remedial

influence, if of one grain of common table salt should act so powerfully on the

10 G °
human body, cases may occur, that in which it is sufficient merely to smell of a sugar-
pellet, not larger than a hemp-seed, moistened with such a dilution ; or if, as we have
seen in Dr. Henng's Concise View, even parsley distinctly belongs to the class of
important remedial agents. What patient would be able conscientiously to deny that
he has not been in contact with some table salt, or has not been exposed to the influ-
ence of some homoeopathic remedial substance, as parsley, sulphur 1 &c. Another
piece of cunning advice of Hahnemann to his followers is, as we have seen, that they
should avoid the treatment of patients who have ever been under the care of a mur-
derous allopathisl, since this may frustrate all their exertions. Now, who could
comply with such conditions, and, if he could, the infatuated hornoeopathist
would not believe it, but would persuade his patient, that his memory was
treacherous, and that, not long since, he must have taken a few grains of calomel,
or that he must have recently smelled sulphur, belladonna, must have passed
near some place where the thorn-apple or even roses grow, &c. — We know
some very amusing instances in which, after these magicians could not succeed
with all their developed virtues, they insisted upon their subterfuge, that the pa-
tient must absolutely be under the influence of a remedial agent, which counteracted
and frustrated their absolutely and unconditionally acting and never-failing drug-vir-
tues. In one such case, related to us by a respectable and trust-worthy physician, a
patient, who had been persuaded by the same half-witted German merchant, mentioned
above to consult the homoeopathic doctor for some chronic disease, became daily
worse and was at last confined to his room. When one day the doctor visited him,
just as he was lighting his cigar with a small match ; the doctor observing it, ex-
claimed with a serious face and with great pathos, " Now I see why my exertions are
" in vain ; my suspicions are now confirmed ; you are under the remedial influence of
" sulphur which must counteract all my best selected remedies; this is unquestion-
" ably the only reason why you do not recover !" The patient, already tired of all
the " trifles and niceties never heard of before," applied to a common allopathist, who
fortunately soon cured him, in spite of the continued remedial agency of the sulphur
on a match.

198

either to declare them gross falsehoods, or to renounce all truth
hitherto acknowledged and even confirmed by mathematical cal-
culations, and believe implicitly in supernatural powers and miracles
at the disposal of man.

We see indeed no other chance, not merely with regard to
medicine alone, but also generally to the laws of the human under-
standing, and to those derived from all the minute researches of
natural philosophy and the many sciences and arts connected with
them. We can prove these, our assertions, from Dr. Hering's
pamphlet, where we read, on page 14, " Medicines which had
" undergone these operations no longer possessed those long conti-
" nued effects of a prejudicial character, which we so frequently have
" to witness from crude articles. Their operation is always rapid,
" of short continuance, and without danger, &c. Moreover, these
" dilutions were thus extraordinary small in appearance only ;
" they were in fact operative by reason of the pure energy proper
" to the medicine developed by art, and not by reason of the original
" matter of it. Hence they could not be too small or too weak ; for
*' it was shown in a manner not to be mistaken, that the proper
" medicinal virtue was by no means diminished in them, but, in
" their lower grades it was at first unfolded and developed, and it
" was only by their continuation that it began again to decrease.
" But as regards its capability of exciting the organization to salu-
" tary action, there was never any diminution, it was still witnessed,
"even though the dilutions were continued, until they reached
"some hundreds in number. In the higher dilutions, however, it
" was so modified as more quickly to excite the organization to
" opposition, but the opposition continued for a short time." And
on page 20, " By means of these triturations and dilutions, so called,
"it was the matter only which became so minutely divided, but it
" was the energy, the virtue only which was thereby so astonish-
ingly unfolded, &c.;" and ibid, " when the process of Trituration
" or Agitation was too long continued, the energy of the medicine
" became too intensely raised," &c. And again on page 28, "when
" no relief whatever is possible,they do no injury." Though we have
already determined what the proper meaning of the largest ox small-
est homoeopathic doses must be, if there shall be any sense in them;
we ask any impartial reader, of common sense, if after the repeated
perusal of these quotations, he can comprehend this " potenzised"
nonsense, and particularly if he can reconcile that one and the

199

same thing decreases, and again becomes astonishingly unfolded)
so that its energy proves to be too intensely raised, and that all
this being effected by one and the same process, the final result
shall be a power, much smaller than it was at the beginning of
the processes, called only triturations and solutions ; what are they
then else? Are they not then avowedly witchcraft, chiromancy, &c?
But it may be still more illustrating to quote here the master's
own remarkable expressions. Hahnemann begins the second
volume of his treatise on Chronic Diseases with the following words,
" The changes which take place in all natural productions, espe-
cially in drugs, by constant triturations with a substance not
" medicinal, or by shaking with a fluid not medicinal, are so in-
" credibly great as to be almost miraculous, and it is gratifying
"that the discovery of these wonderful changes belongs tohomoeo-
" pathia. The medicinal powers of these substances, as we have
" stated elsewhere, are not only developed by it in an unmeasurable
" degree, but their chemical and physical conditions are so changed,
" that if their solubility in water or alcohol could never before be
"perceived in their crude elementary state, they, after their peculiar
" metamorphosis, become quite soluble in water or alcohol ; a
" discovery which I first published to the world !" — We leave it to
the fancy of any one to imagine what substance can be not medi-
cinal, if all natural productions are capable of having a virtue
developed from them. — Hahnemann continues to assert not only
(hat by this manner, all substances, like flint, all metals, the pure
as well as the sulphuretted and oxydated, become soluble in water
or alcohol, but also that they remain unaltered for years in respect
to all their singular properties thus acquired, and especially in
their particular state, termed by him '•'"potenzisedT' Thus for
instance in speaking of 'pure phosphorus, he adds expressly, " I
" do not mean its acid;" of course the contrary being the opinion of
all "over-refined chemists," who believe phosphorus easily oxyda-
ted by, but not soluble in water; it cannot be his opinion. He says
farther, loc. cit. " We shall find also in this, their enhanced and
" almost glorified state, that no neutralization whatever takes place,
" The medical virtues of Natrum, Ammonia, Barytes, Lime and
" Magnesia, will in this their highly potenzised state, not perhaps
" be neutralized when a dose is taken, as they do in their crude
"state as bases, by a drop of vinegar; their medicinal power is
" neither to be altered nor annihilated, Nitric acid prepared and

200

" taken inthis manner for the use of homoBopathists, in the proper
" homoeopathic developement and dose, will not become changed
"in its strong definite medical action, if Lime or Natrum be taken
" afterwards, and therefore will not become neutralized." On page
272, Vol. IV., of the same work, on mentioning the common in-
offensive use of table silt, (Natrum muriaticum or Soda? murias)
one of his favorite antipsorics — probably on account of Pliny's
statements, who mentions in his natural history, lib. xxxiv. " sca-

biem pecorum sal tollit." Hahnemann says, "and yet the

" greatest medical virtues are concealed in it. Is it not therefore
" evident, even to the most short-sighted, that the peculiar homceo-
" pathical preparations of medical substances reveal almost a new
" world of powers, which have hitherto remained concealed in
" nature ; thus by the transmutation of common table salt from
" its crude and inactive nature into a violent medicine, it is to be
" given after this preparation, with the greatest precaution, to the
" diseased person. What an incredible transmutation, and yet
" how true ! apparently a new creation ! The pure table salt
' : carried in this manner to the decillionth developement of power,"

(TWto ) "i s one of the strongest antipsoric medicines, as its annexed

" peculiar effect on the healthy body,'-' (895 symptoms of its drug-
disease) " manifests, but cannot be given without injury to sick
" persons suffering from itch, in more than one or two small sugar
" pellets maistened with a fluid impregnated with its decillionth
"developed power. But individuals injured by allopathic stimu-
" lants, and those who are very much debilitated and very sensible,
" will not bear even this small dose, and if this drug is then
" called for from homoeopathic reasons, they can only be permitted
" to smell once of a sugar-pellet of the size of a hempseed, moist-
"ened with that solution, as a dose sufficient to perpetuate its
" effect from fifteen to twenty days."

Now we candidly ask all unprejudiced men of common sense ;
professional or unprofessional, if they have ever read more non-
sense than is contained in these few quotations ? It is difficult
to believe that this has been printed a thousand times, in a country
distinguished for its high standing in literature, for its great philo-
sophers and learned men ; and this in the midst of the nineteenth
century ! On attentive reflection, it is still more difficult to believe
thai men exist, who, professing to possess sound judgment and to
be well educated, and pretending that the life and health of their

201

fellow-men could be confidently entrusted to their professional skill
and care, would credit only for a moment such hare-brained ab
surdities as purest truth and greatest wisdom, nay ! boldly assert,
that by such productions, " a new era has dawned upon all the
" natural sciences ; a new period has dawned upon pathology,
" as well as on all the certain sciences, and that its author is to be
" regarded as one of the greatest medical geniusses of the age."
(See Hering's Concise View, page 4 and 24.)

The greatest truth ever written by Samuel Hahnemann is his
own conclusion, which he artlessly draws from his statements in
regard to the miracles, the glorified state, and the new world de-
veloped by his manipulations from his drug-atoms.— He calls the
monstrous children of his morbid fancy or eccentric charlatanism by
their right names! Indeed, if to believe implicitly in the developed
power contained in a sugar-pellet not larger than a hempseed, and
moistened with the decillionth dilution of common table salt, that
is, with the

1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
part of one grain, and even that this power is communicated to the
surrounding atmosphere so as to be imparted to the human body by
smelling, if that, we say, does not imply supernatural powers, then
all our conceptions of this and similar expressions are wrong and
have no meaning. The conceits of Eudaemons and Kakodtumons
of the oldest mycologists; the theurgy and deinonology of the most
superstitious heathens; the most fanciful religious notions of many
East Indians, their Dews, Am4iadpans, lzeds, Fervers, (fee. ; what
are all these compared with Hahnemann's virtues developed from
one grain of a simple drug, " developed by art and not by reason of
" the original matter," (Concise View, page 14.) develo|>ed ad, infini-
tum at his pleasure with different degrees of power from all
natural substances, by his homoeopathic manipulations ! — powers
acting not only with volition, but with the most judicious medical
reflection, since they either suspend their action, when it appears to
them better to do so ; for instance, always after their work is
finished in healthy persons, or operate in diseased individuals for
weeks, and never injure if they do no benefit, though all their
operations are always absolute and unconditional, and therefore
also omnipotent within the limits of human life, " so ih.it if their
■ dose was large enough, each living human organism must at

26

202

" any time and all events become allected 01 even injected by the
" drug-disease."*

* See Organon, 4th edition, $27 and Materia Medica, Vol. II., page 20. U ie
worth remarking, that here Hahnemann says, " if the dose was large enough;'" but
that in his Chronic Diseases, Vol. I. p. 209, and in other places, he says, that his
followers may give still smaller doses than he advises, since it is impossible to select
too small a dose. — It may be conjectured with some probability, that Hahnemann's
doctrine of developed virtues originated with him in the belief of a kind of demtmology,
since on an attentive perusal of all his works we shall find some distinct indications
of it, (see Organon, 4th edition, note to $203 mentioned above, where he appears to
believe in witchcraft.) Nearly the same conceits and expressions used by him, occur
in the explanations of old authors about such superstitions. Macrobius in his
Saturnalia, lib. 1. cap. 23. quotes from the works of Posidonius of Apamea, (a stoic
philosopher and astrologer, who as is said was the teacher of Cicero,) entitled
*'tfS£i |X£wwv xai ^aijxovwv" the following etymological explanation of the term de-
monology, "quia ex astherea substantia parta, nlquedivisa qualitas illis est." Morus
in mysteriis pietatis, p. 118, thinks that the Greek name oi Damon aiises from "(5aiS»v"
that is, " to divide," — the homoeopathic divisions in optima forma. Should the future
confirm what some believe, viz. that Hahnemann has acted honestly, at least in
regard to his publications about homceopathia and his itch-doctrine, and has published
only what he himself really believed to be true, we may account for his singular pro-
pensity to mysticism, magic, demonology, &c, by his hereditary family-disposition, if
we are not mistaken in presuming that he is a descendant from Joh. Ludovicus Han-
nernann, a famous theologist and physician of the 17th century, and professor of
natural philosophy at the Danish University of Kiel, in Holsatia. He was the author
of many singular works on Alchemy, and on similar mystical topics, regarding the
discovery of the philosopher's stone for longevity, &c, among others of Aurora
oriens; Xystus in hortum hesperidum; Tubalkain stantem ad fornacem; De analogo
Urim et Thumim in mente humana ; Circulum philosophise adeptae cum Theologia,
et comparationem mysteriorum Theologiaj cum lapidis philosophorum, arcano magis-
terio; De aureis pomis in vase argenles; Methodus nova et accurata cognoscendi
simplicia vegctabilia ; the latter contains a new and accurate method of recog-
nising simple plants, and appears to be similar to our Samuel Hahnemann's first
latin work on homceopathia, " de Viribus medicamentorum positivis." As we have
not Joh. Ludov. Hannemann's work last mentioned, but have only collected these
literary notices from Joecher's Gelehrte|i Lexicon, 1750, we leave it for others pos-
sessing this literary curiosity to investigate the correctness of our presumption, and
also to ascertain whether or not, the same Joh. Ludv. Hannemann disputes with us
the priority of our important proposal about the cheap homceopathical whitewashing of
negros as mentioned above, by his treatises entitled " Dealbatio iEtbiopis et Scru-
tinium nigredinis posterorum Cham sive ^Ethiopum." These researches would be
highly important, not only in regard to the literary pedigree of " one of the greatest
medical geniusses of our age," but also in a psychological respect. — Fortes creantur
fortibus et bonis, &c.

To the diilerence in spelling both names none can object, who knows that this wa6
not unusual in old times ; thus for instance the original name of the great reformer,
Molanchton, was a Greek translation from the German, Schwarzerd, (Blackearth)and
that of his kinsman and his noble and gallant companion in the combat for truth, Johann
lteuchlin, was Capnio, (Smokeman.) At an age when only lew were well educated,
and few only knew how to write, it was very easy for the wto be accidentally changed
into an h, and much more so, as in upper Saxony the short syllables are generally
pronounced long. This change may also have been the consequence of the death of
Joh. Lud. Hannemann's son, who had been killed in a duel in the year 1679, after he
likewise had published some mystical works, for instance, De aulicorum et Martis
filiorum arcanis; De medicotum divinitate ; both quite in the style of our Samuel's
medical omnipotence and his predilection for arcana ; it may be that after this fatal
event the family migrated from Holsatia to Upper Saxony, the native country of
Hahnemann, as we also find in Adelung's supplement to Joecher's work, above
mentioned, a poet born in Leipzig, who had changed his family name Hannemann into
Alcctorander or Cockman, the Greek translation of the German Hahnemann. — It is
also very singular, that exactly a hundred years before Samuel Hahnemann published
the first outlines of his doctrine, (1795) a Hannemann wrote a treatise "cm tke inheri-
tance of lunacy," (see Misc. Acad. Nat. cur. Dec. 3, An. 3, 1695.) This treatise is

203

Any further discussion would be unnecessary and useless for those
who implicitly believe in homoeopathia or Ilahncmannism, even
at the risk of being guilty of the grossest credulity and superstition,
by trusting in such infinitely developed powers or miracles. Their
dimmed reason will always dwell on facts, which apparently con-
firm every chimera offered to their defective judgment and to their
perverse imagination; utterly unmindful whether these accord with
the first fundamental laws of the human understanding and with
the acknowledged laws of nature or not, they will shun all closer
investigation of which they are incapable, and will even attribute
facts, which are opposed to their narrow conceits and superstitious
credulity, rather to mistakes and to the ignorance of their opposers,
to some unknown and unavoidable counteracting accidents, or to
the only old truth, which even homoeopathists modestly admit, that
death is beyond the reach of all human power. " Ad quamcunque
" disciplinam velut tempestate delati, ad earn, tamque ad saxum
" adhaerescunt." — Cicero.

But there are undoubtedly among the adherents of Hahneman-
nism many who are zealously anxious for truth, and, conscious of
all the requisites of their arduous vocation, are willing to acquire
them wherever they can be attained ; knowing that many pheno-
mena in nature, and especially in the life of organized bodies, cannot
be explained by, or referred to, universal laws on account of our li-
mited means; and dissatisfied with the frequent changes of the so
called systems of practical medicine, with the many contradictory
statements in objects of daily occurrence, by physicians equally en-
gaged in extensive practice in one and the same country, and even
city &c, they believe themselves entitled or even forced to adopt the
statements of homosopathia as facts, under the impression that the
theoretical explanation of these facts, which are confirmed by tests,
trustworthy in their eyes, might belong to those of similar extraor
dinary phenomena in organized life, which are likewise not accor-
dant to, or explainable by, the present state of natural philosophy
and physiology, and that homoeopathia is at least not more unsafe
than all other modes of medical practice.

considered very able and interesting, especially if we consider that, at that time, such
subjects were but little noticed; probably he was conscious of his hereditary disposition
and had merely described his own state during its lucid intervals ; so, too, we possess
in the modern literature of Germany an interesting treatise on intoxication, written
by a distinguished philosopher and author, who was very intemperate. Be this as it
may, we are gratified in having thus perhaps contributed some valuable materials
for the minute biography of so distinguished a man, of which he himself hitherto mav
have been entirely ignorant

204

There are many suggestions in Hahnemann's works and in trea
Uses published in his defence, which dazzle the eyes of many, who
are easily prepossessed by superficial and sophistical reasoning and
by the novelty of the homoeopathic doctrine, not aware, from their
want of a close scrutiny, of its proper meaning, nor of the grossest
superstition which it involves. We mayjustly hope th;it if such men
become only more minutely acquainted with the ex tent and the
tendency of the homoeopathic doctrine, and if it be only clearly
proved to them that Hahnemann did not use the expressions, " mi-
" racles," " wonderful* " a glorified state," " a new creation?
metaphorically or hyperbolically, but that his doctrine admits no
other explanations than those intimately connected with the said
expressions, they would investigate these objects closely, and
ashamed of their superstition, they would examine more minutely
all the conditions indispensable for facts, whenever truth is to be
established by them ; thus prepared, they would agree with us,
either that the substance of this doctrine must be rejected and
abandoned, or that life and health will be exposed more than ever
to the worst consequences of the rudest medical empiricism, result-
ing in addition from an implicit belief in the action of supernatural
powers, merely dependent upon the will of man, or on medical
witchcraft. We feel therefore particularly bound to examine care-
fully the most prominent assertions of Hahnemann in regard to
his third maxim of homoeopathia ; which is, that it is impossible
to give too small a dose of any drug, provided that it is selected
according to his maxim, similia similibus curantur, or to his itch-
theory, and has been developed or potenzised by the proper mani-
pulations.

As long as Hahnemann candidly confessed, that in referring
only to the truth of his experiments, he was unable or unwilling to
explain them by any acknowledged law of nature, we could only
examine whether we can place confidence in his statements, as
being instituted with due precaution against palpable mistakes,
though they always would lead to a rude empiricism. But if, un-
able to depend positively on the acknowledged laws of nature, he
refers only negatively to them, and asserts, that his maxim is founded
on phenomena similar to others, which must be admitted, though
they have hitherto remained unexplained, or have been supported
only by untenable hypotheses : he then challenges his opposers to
examine closely ,whether this pretended negative similarity between
his established hypothesis and those of the other natural pheno-

205

mena mentioned, be correct. Should it be found so, or should
the operations of his virtues developed from drugs really belong to
the same class with those phenomena, the true causes of which
we must admit to be merely hypothetical, then we must farther
examine, whether they cannot be explained consistently with hu-
man reason, or whether their belief involves implicit faith in su-
pernatural powers, miracles, or witchcraft.

We know only two classes of natural powers — the vital powers
of all living organized bodies, and the universal physical powers.
The former we divide again into psychical or mental, and dyna-
mical or those which refer to physical life ; and the latter into me-
chanical and chemical powers. There are, therefore, four distinct
manifestations of powers to be compared.

We leave out of the question all psychical or mental powers,
implying, as the least of their characteristics, volition, either in-
stinctive or intellectual ; as we suppose that the candid homcepa-
thists are willing unconditionally to reject all supernatural powers,
miracles, spirits, etc. to which the adoption of any psychical power,
developed by homoeopathic manipulations, must unavoidably
lead.

Dynamical powers are only the attributes of organized life, and
cannot therefore be developed by man from substances destitute
of organization and life, as earths, salts, metals, etc. from which
Hahnemann pretends to develope immense virtues or powers. —
The similarity with the vital powers of the human body would
contradict, according to our numerous quotations from Hahne-
mann's works, his explicit opinion about them ; since he repeat-
edly asserts, that his developed drug-virtues operate far more
powerfully than the human vital powers do. According to his
repeated assertions, that his developed drug-virtues always act ab-
solutely and unconditionally, they are indeed omnipotent within
the limits of life, and by far paramount to the human vital powers,
which operate, in his opinion, " always in a miserable, automati-
cal manner," and are capable only of extinguishing, in diseases,
the remnants, always left to them by the surplus operations of his
drug-virtues. No dynamical power operates absolutely and un-
conditionally, not even that which acts most independently, viz.
progenitiveness in vegetable or in animal life. It must also not
only appear extremely absurd, that a dynamical power developed
from any substance should act in the inverse ratio of its weight,

206

but that such a power should become developed from flint, char-
coal, sulphur, etc. by such processes as evidently belong to the
most effectual ones of destroying all dynamical power, even in all
bodies endowed with life. Common sense must consider tritura-
tion and solution as the best modes of destroying life, where it ex-
ists, rather than of procreating it. The homoeopathic drug-virtues
cannot therefore be compared with the dynamical powers of orga-
nized living bodies.

Neither Hahnemann nor his followers would admit the adoption
of any mechanical power, though he has explained the direct and
indirect treatment in this manner, as we have seen above, where
we have objected to his assertion, that in the indirect treatment the
drugs must always operate obliquely. It would also be very sin-
gular to imagine, that the developed drug-virtues operate by the
same mechanical laws as those by which a lever, a wedge, a plane,
or any similar tool, acts. Moreover, such little planes, wedges,
etc. many thousand billions of which are contained in a body not
larger than a hemp-seed, must make the whole tour of the circu-
lation, before they reach the proper place where the imprisoned
itch is to be freed from its long confinement, or before they can
smooth the purpura miliaris, the little wart on the right cheek,
etc. And this singular conception would also admit that these
marvellous deeds are to be performed by them, not merely as by
common tools, but as if they acted at the same time as circumspect
and judicious mechanics ! — " Quae molitio, quae ferramenta, qui
" vectes, quae machina, qui ministri tanti operis fuerunt ?" —
Cicero.*

The profession has hitherto known of only three instances in
which drugs, when given internally, are known to act by their

* The supposition that the virtues developed from drugs act mechanically, offers a
favourable opportunity for demonstrating, by an amusing arithmetical calculation, the
huge extent of the nonsense to which homceopathia leads. It is interesting in so far
as we become, by it, more minutely acquainted with the admirable niceties of homoe-
opathic doses, and particularly with the proportion really existing between an atom
of their higher dilutions and the scarcely imaginable smallest magnitude of other bo-
dies. Thus it is easy to prove, that the ratio between a drug-atom, contained in the
thirtieth dilution — which is, according to the latest precepts of Hahnemann, the best
to be used, if, as he explicitly recommends, his followers should not be willing to re-
sort rather to still higher ones— and a mote or a particle of the finest dust perceptible
in a sunbeam, is far greater than the ratio between the latter and the mass of our
whole globe} and that therefore, all circumstances being equal, this globe could be
moved, by a mote m.ore easily, than the mote itself by a homoeopathic atom of the thir-
tieth dilution, or " potenz."

We have only to take into account, that a cubic inch of atmospheric air weighs half

20?

mechanical operation ; metallic mercury, given by many ounces,
in ileus or iliac-passion, when arising from intus-susception of the
intestines ; tin-filings, in cases of tape-worm ; and Dolichos pru-
riens, (Stizolobium, Pers.) recommended in cases of lumbrici and
ascarides, and recently even in cases of Asiatic cholera : but their
number would be as immense as that of natural substances, if ho-
mccopathists admit the mechanical operation of their developed
drug-virtues. Thus the mechanical mode of the action of the ho-
moeopathic drug-virtues is likewise put out of the question.

All the hopes of homoeopathists of assigning to their eudeemoos
and spirits an honourable place among the powers of nature, hi-
therto known, rest therefore on the chemical powers. But in this
also they must feel quite disappointed ; because all experience
teaches, that the chemical properties of any substance are never
changed by any mechanical division, or by any dilution with, or

a grain, and be permitted to adopt that a sphere of one inch diameter, formed of
motes, is at least twice as heavy, or weighs one grain ; partly because the motes are
proved to possess a considerably greater gravity than the atmospheric air ; partly also
because the proposition requires the weight of one grain for a cubic sphere, and the
whole calculation becomes more simplified by it. Farther, knowing, by optical expe-
riments, that the smallest body visible, without artificial aid, cannot be less than the
one thousandth part of one inch, the diameter of a sphere of visible motes can there-
fore not contain more than a thousand of them. The whole sphere of motes weigh-
ing one grain, and containing one thousand in diameter, will form a sphere which con-
tains 523,500,000 motes. Let us increase this number with 476,500,000, under the
impression that the motes are still lighter and nearer to the weight of atmospheric air,
and also for the convenience of using the power of ten ; the sphere of motes will then
contain 1,000,000,000, or 10 1 : the weight of one mote will of course be accordingly

~i. The whole weight of our globe is nearly equal to one with 25 zeros in pounds,

or to one with 29 zeros in grains ; the thirtieth homceopathic dilution is equal to a

1
fraction of one divided by one with sixty zeros, or to 30 These numbers give the

following geometrical proportion, wherein the first member is equal to the homoeopa-
thic dilution ; the second, or the two middle members to the weight of one mote, and

1 1 1

the third is the rosulting number, viz. 60 : .Ti" ~ ' ~TrJ' : ^ or one mote,weigh-

1 1

ing "Tg of a grain, and the thirtieth dilution weighing TTso, would require as the third

number of the proposition, ten elevated to the forty-second power : but the pro-
portion between the weight of our globe, expressed by grains, compared with the

29 » __ 1 1

weight of a mote, gives the following proportion : 10 : J — 9 : 47; or

1 _1__

"T47 is the third member of this proportion. This compared with 60 as the same

third member in the former proportion, gives a number too email in its denominator by
10 13 or by one with 13 zeros : just ten billions, which our globe would weigh more
in grains, (about one thousand millions in pounds) to be then in the same proportion
fco one mote, as this is to one homceopathic atom of the thirtieth ddurion. — q. e d.

208

any solution in, a fluid not decomposing the substance. The oxy-
dation of mercury, or of some other metals, by a long trituration,
and other changes produced in substances where caloric is simul-
taneously developed, depend on other causes than on mechanical
division alone, and can have no influence in this case. It has long
been known that gold, which, unlike most other metals, is not oxy-
dated by hammering, or by other means which considerably dimi-
nish its cohesion, when contemporaneously exposed to the atmos-
pheric air, may be reduced by mechanical power to one millionth
part of j a geometrical line in thickness, and still it retains all its
characteristic properties so fully, that we have reason to think it
might be made much thinner, without losing them in the least.
The homoeopathic maxim, " similia similibus curantur," is fur-
ther opposed to all chemical processes; since these are based
upon the laws of aflinity, resulting from diversity : and wherever
a chemical process operates, two or more contraria, but not similia,
act upon one another ; and their chemical action upon each other
augments with their increasing diversity. The opposite maxim,
" contraria contrariis curantur," though likewise opposed to ra-
tional medicine, would therefore accord much better than the ho-
moeopathic maxim with the chemical laws of nature, which pre-
side over many, if not all vital actions, however essentially changed
and modified they are by the latter. — The homoeopathic tritura-
tions are particularly contrary to the old and still acknowledged
law established in chemistry, viz. corpora non agunt nisi fluida ;
that is, when two or more substances shall act chemically upon
one another, one at least must be liquid, or must contain a fluid,
in being crystalized, or a hydrate.

On glancing at Hahnemann's explanation of his developed
drug-virtues, it is evident that he rejects their chemical opera-
tions : for had he only asserted that the neutralizing chemical
processes do not go on so unaltered in the living animal body as
they do in substances in the crucible, it would have been consist-
ent with sound physiology, which does not acknowledge that the
universal chemical laws act, in the living body, precisely in the
same manner as in physical nature. But a principal objection to
this part of the subject is his assertion, that the chemical proper-
ties of his developed drug-virtues are changed before the drugs
are taken. Thus he asserts, that earths, metals, sulphur, etc. etc.
become soluble in alcohol, by homoeopathic manipulations ; and

209

that substances not volatile, as table-salt, silieia, etc. become so*
volatile, or easily cvaporable, that by merely smelling of them
once, the diseased* state is cured, or changed at least for many
weeks, in spite of all external influences of the atmosphere, of food,
drink, mental impressions, etc. On the other hand, he considers
his duly potenzised drugs to be so far from volatile, however
much they are so in the eyes of all chemists, that, in his opinion,
his sugar-pellets, moistened with highly potenzised drugs, may be
preserved for years, without losing their properties. Thus he says
thatPhosphorus, after being homceopathically potenzised, remains,
without the least precaution, unchanged for years ; though every
one acquainted only with the elements of chemistry, even of
former ages, when this science was not yet so over-refined as
it is in his eyes at present, knows, that Phosphorus is extremely
volatile, and is protected with great difficulty from evaporating
and oxydating, and that nothing promotes both more easily than
trituration. Farther he states, that Baryta acquires the property
of being unchanged by acids, (Chr. Dis. vol. ii. p. 33), and that
the symptoms observed after the use of pure lime are the same as
those caused by acetate of lime, (ibid, p. 63). Acetic acid, which
has so great a chemical influence on almost all substances, espe-
cially on most earths, metals, etc. loses, in his opinion, its promi-
nent influences upon such substances, after their virtues are homceo-
pathically developed, even when uot taken as medicines: so that this
acid is used by him and his followers as an innocent or unmedicinal
fluid, and as a mere menstruum.* This likewise contradicts all
experience, which teaches that acetic acid,particularly in its con-
centrated state, even when externally applied, quickly destroys
parts of the living animal body ; and if taken internally, acts
as a violent poison : though, when sufficiently diluted, it becomes

* As usual with Hahnemann, we find this assertion likewise contradicted by him-
self in his Mater. Med. vol. i. p. 14. where he says, that the poisonous effects of Bel-
ladonna are much incrcasedby the addition of acetic acid. This evidently proves, that,
considering Belladonna in itself a powerful drug, he must value acetic acid also, as a
very effectual, and not as an indifferent one. Vinegar, and similar vegetable acids,
were always considered, by the physicians of all schools, as the best antidotes against
all kinds of narcotic plants, and especially against Belladonna : of course Hahnemann
must assert the contrary, even without any regard to his committing the grossest in-
consistency. There is hardly to be found an author more careless in regard to con-
tradictions and inconsistencies, even to those which are quite unnecessary and easily
avoidable. But he knows best what he can offer to his infatuated disciples and ad-
mirers without losing their implicit confidence and humble respect ; and for others
he never was able nor intended to write as a dignified medical author, since he com--
menced the career of a quack.

27

210

vinegar, which injures only dyspeplic, hysteric persons, etc. In
addition to all these facts, his developed drug-virtues are directly
opposed to the known laws of chemistry, which do not admit an
inverse ratio between the weight and power of a substance, but
prove the contrary, especially according to the acute researches of
Berthollet, in his Statique Chimique, which are found, at least in
that respect, correct.

We have now to compare the action of Hahnemann's developed
drug-virtues with the operation of those agents, termed imponde-
rabilia, which appear to be particularly attractive to him and his
followers. — A man who searches for " great truths," by which he
thinks to benefit mankind so much, might be excused for his gross
ignorance of the modern discoveries in natural philosophy and che-
mistry, and for not being aware, that the so termed impondera-
bilia are now considered as the most powerful chemical agents
which preside over all chemical processes, and that the greatest
chemists of the present century have founded the whole system of
chemistry upon the reciprocal electro-chemical relations of sub-
stances considered as elementary ; thus the great chemist Berze-
lius has constructed his chemical theory and classification upon
the electro-chemical phenomena attending the mutual affinity of
bodies, as bases and acids. Hahnemann, however, is so far behind,
and so ignorant of the progress of chemistry, as not even to know
the difference between muriatic and chloric acid ; (see Mat.
Med. Vol. V. second edition, 1626, p. 98,) but, nevertheless, this
brazen-faced charlatan, though a contemporary of Wentzel, La-
voisier, Scheele, Humphrey Davy, J. B. Richter, &c., ventures to
assume a high standing as a chemist, and to ridicule and despise
modern chemistry, as he does all ancient and modern medicine! —
Admitting that his drug-virtues must be considered as similar to the
other imponderable agents, can he or any one else demonstrate by
facts that caloric, light, electricity, magnetism, physical as well as
animal, operate in an inverse ratio to their presumed weight and
bulk, as his developed drug-virtues must do if they existed any where
else but in his own morbid fancy ? Do not all phenomena proveptf*
the contrary ? Should light operate in the inverse ratio of its quan-
tity, all animals would see better in direct proportion to the darkness ;
plants would best flourish in places precluded from the access of
light, and fade away when exposed to the bright sun-shine, <fec.
Should caloric operate in the inverse ratio of its quantity, a sub-
stance might be ignited by a plain glass, or still better, by being

211

placed behind a concave one ; we should feel warmest in tlie-
cxtrenie cold of winter, and coldest in the heat of summer,
&c. Electricity depends also on the direct ratio of its de-
veloped quantity, otherwise a smaller surface of glass or rosin
would be better adapted to develope a laige quantity of both
electricities than a larger one ; none of the many experiments
with the electrometer, the electrical condenser, the Leyden vial,
the electrophor, &c, could be satisfactorily explained. The
same may be said of galvanism if it is to be considered as different
from electricity ; the degree of its extensive or intensive powers
depending, either on the largeness of the surface, or on the num-
ber of the plates. In regard to magnetism, a smaller piece of the
same magnet would also prove more powerful than a larger one,
or at least from the smallest magnet the strength and extent of
power could be developed ad infinitum ; Schweigger's multiplicator,
Faraday's late interesting experiments in confirmation of Oerstedt's
great discovery in producing electricity by magnetism, and many
other experiments, which have advanced natural history and che-
mistry during the present age more than many centuries did before,
could not be explained, if electricity, galvanism and magnetism
should be presumed to act, similar to the homoeopathically deve-
loped drug-virtue, in the inverse ratio of weight and power. We
suppose, that even animal magnetism, though yet little known,
appears to depend in a direct ratio upon bulk, for, if this were not
the case, a person unpleasantly affected by the approach of a cat,
would either feel so at any distance, or would have lost all sensi-
tiveness of this kind in infancy, by unavoidable and continual
habit. It would also be difficult to explain why generally, strong,
stout and healthy persons best impart animal magnetism, and why
sometimes they feel so exhausted by it, that instances are recorded,
where healthy and vigorous magnetiseurs, have died suddenly,
immediately after such an over-exertion ; though we do not be-
lieve that animal magnetism will revive a person who has been
for a long time asphyctic, as Hahnemann asserts in his Organon,
4th ed. on §291. — In a manner, never before observed by any
one Hahnemann also minutely distinguishes, in the second
volume of his Mat. Med., the different symptoms elicited in healthy
persons by the north and south-pole of a magnet, and refers with
peculiar emphasis and extraordinary sarcasm to the action of mag-
netism generally. As if this agent was properly known by him
only, he asks, on p. 213, among other bombast, to edify his

212

school of ignoramuses, " Is not the centillionth part of a grain, (a
" fraction with 600 zeros as denominator), still infinitely too heavy
" for the imponderable part, for this kind of spirit, which has flown
" from the magnetic stick into the living body? and will you feel
" so much struck with amazement, at the homopopathic doses of
" an efficient drug, amounting to one sixtillionth, one octillionth,
" or one decillionth part of a grain, which are so immensely large?
" when compared with the invisible magnetic power ?" — In a si-
milar manner he says, on p. 293 of his Organon, (4th ed.) referring
to all the stupid allopathists, " Let mathematicians explain to
" them how true it is, that if a substance be divided into any num-
" ber of parts, its smallest particle will always contain something
" of this substance, and therefore it can never become a nonentity ;
" let them be told by natural philosophers, if they are susceptible
> " of instruction, that there are numerous powerful things (called
" potenzes), which are totally without weight, as caloric, light, &c.
" and are, therefore, always infinitely lighter than the contents of
" a drug in its homoeopathic dose ; let them estimate, if they can,
" the weight of an angry word, by which a bilious fever is gene-
" rated, or the weight of sad tidings from an only son, by which
" his mother is killed."

Those who, from extravagant imagination, narrow reason or
credulous infatuation, cannot reflect with calmness, are exceedingly
dazzled by this and similar explanations of Hahnemann, and in-
stead of minutely analyzing such common-place instances and flat
reasonings as they easily could, they become still more, fascinated
by the acuteness and depth of intellect, as well as by the immense
wisdom and experience of their " great genius. 1 '

Hahnemann generally uses a singular kind of paralogism
or a false and deceitful conclusion, when he endeavours to
appeal from his pretended facts to common sense. With but little
attention every one will observe his mode of ratiocination to consist
in this, that, because we cannot explain a certain phenomenon,
therefore not only his statements of a phenomenon, which is either
distantly or not at all similar to the former, must not only be cre-
dited, but his explanation of it must likewise be true, be it ever so
whimsical and foolish. In the case before us his singular course of
reasoning is this : because we cannot exactly explain in what man-
ner the magnet acts on the living organized body, therefore we must
not only believe the salutary effect of his developed drag-virtues,
but also (hat the manner and cause of their operation are similar

213

■ identical with those of the magnet,— that is, similar to a manner
which neither he himself nor any other mortal being knows.
Another mode in which he argues, is no less delusive and false, in
being contrary to the true old maxim, " a posse ad esse non valet
" consequent ia," or " because a thing can exist, it does not follow
" that it must exist." More clearly explained, his ratiocination
consists in this, that because the mere intellectual or subjective
condition of the truth of an assertion, or of a deceitful experiment,
might well answer negatively for its real existence, or because
a phenomenon might be imagined to depend on a cause, the adop-
tion of which is not opposed to the logical laws of the human un-
derstanding (possibilitas logical : therefore also the phenomenon
itself, and its dependence upon the imaginary and adopted cause,
must also be positively true, may it be ever so much contradicted
either directly by daily experience, or indirectly 'by an abstract of
other facts, and may it therefore want all the conditions on which
the objective possibility rests, (possibilitas phamomenon siverealis.)
Thus, for instance, because it is not absolutely contrary to the lo-
gical laws of our understanding to believe in mermaids, or centaurs,
it would follow, according to such reasoning, that we cannot doubt
the existence of such beings, whenever something happens which
may be easily explained by them ; or in a nearer relation to the
object before us : because, it is not contrary to the logical laws of
the human understanding, to believe in spirits which might pre-
side as independent or delegated beings over all the phenomena of
matter, wherever this is considered as united with an imponder-
abile or with any thing else, therefore Hahnemann thinks himself
fully justified in regarding his developed drug-virtues also not only
as imponderabilia, but also as transmuted by his manipulations
into spirits.

F. Bacon says very correctly, " Experiments touching trans-
" mission of spirits and the force of imagination, work most upon
" weak minds and spirits ; for instance, those of sick, superstitious
" and fearful persons, children and young creatures." After the
simplicity of the earliest ages had passed, when the mere dictates
of sages or impostors could make persons believe every thing they
imagined or hoped for, base impostors, or blind ignorant fanatics
pursued this course, and by pretended facts substituted credulity
and superstition for the true explanations of natural phenomena.
By such means, demonology, magic, alchemy, witchcraft and
similar kinds of deception were palmed upon all classes of people

214

for many centuries, eithei by men, who deceived themselves from
want of intelligent reflection or from ignorance ; or by impostors,
who valued t their low interests higher than the prosperity of their
fellow-men. In cases where the public was not disposed to believe
them implicitly, they had always some facts at their command, by
which they endeavoured to show the causal similarity or identity
of those facts and their wonderful statements, knowing that the
public cannot generally investigate minutely the true connexion
between similar phenomena and their widely different causes, nor
ascertain that the deception in regard to the identity of the causes
of two or more similar phenomena, frequently arises merely from
the contemporaneous action of the former.

Yet the old Greek and Roman philosophers thought that matter
can never be reduced to nothing : Anaxagoras, for instance, ac-
knowledged very distinctly the infinite divisibility of matter, by
his o/jwi/xs£Siai. Lucretius says in many places the same, e. g. on
lib. i. v. 249,

" Haud igitur'redit ad Nihilum res ulla sed omnes,
" Discidio redeunt in corpora material. "

And F. Bacon says exactly the same in his Organon : " Nulla
" violentia, nulla denique setas aut diuturnitas temporis potest re-
" digere aliquam vel minimam portionem materia in nihilum,
" quin et sit aliquid et loci aliquid occupet." If every one must
admit that any small quantity of a substance, soluble in water,
alcohol, &c. or miscible with other substances by trituration in any
large and disproportionate quantity, will never become absolutely
nothing, but always remain something', especially if the substances
in question do not operate chemically upon each other ; does it
follow therefrom that the effects of these substances on the human
body, in any imaginable small quantity, must not only be per-
ceptible, but still greater than when used in quantities many
million times larger, because they have become transmuted into an
imponderabile, different from any other one hitherto known, and
therefore also from other fancied homoeopathic imponderabilia.
developed in a similar manner from other simple drugs? The in-
finite divisibility of matter is so intimately connected with our ab-
stract ideas, that without, its adoption, our conceptions in regard to
the existence of bodies of all shapes and sizes appear to be vague,
and would force us to admit the still more unmeaning conception
of a vacuum, though the atomistical theory of modern chemistry

215

explains with much acuteness the existence of primitive atoms.
Admitting, therefore, with Hahnemann, that the smallest imagin
ahle fraction of a substance must always he something of it, his
other assertion involves itself the grossest petitio principii, and gives
rise to the simple question, why this, his proposition, should not be
directly applicable to the smallest particle itself, without any fur-
ther developement ; or by what reason or experiment can he prove
that the matter, which he himself declares indestructible, becomes
nevertheless, by its developement, extinct as matter, and is trans-
muted into a spirit, a thought, &c, in short, into something which
is not matter? Hahnemann's adoption of spirits, into which all
matter becomes changed, palpably contradicts not only his assertion
about the continuance of matter, but the latter offers the most con-
clusive argument against the adoption of the former. Should his
virtues developed from drugs be, as he pretends, identical with
the substances or agents hitherto known and called impondera
bilia, then he must either admit that the principal characteristic
of matter, viz. absolute ponderability, has ceased to be its essential
attribute, or that the same thing can be material and immaterial ;
and also it would appear unnecessary to recommend the tiresome
development of these imponderabilia from the different drugs; as
they are made ready at hand for us, and are unquestionably more
free from all matter than if formed by repeated triturations, di-
lutions, and shaking of drugs, &c. — Since Professor Oerstedt's dis-
covery of the identity of electricity and magnetism, we know of
only three agents called imponderabilia, viz. light, caloric and elec-
tricity. We should, therefore, have only to select from these three,
one, or, (if we wished to use, contrary to Hahnemann's prescrip-
tions, more than one at a time), two or three for the experiments
on healthy and the cure of diseased persons, without resorting to
one of the same imponderabilia, developed by a troublesome pro-
cess from other substances. Could any sound conclusion be
drawn from Hahnemann's contradictory assertions, we could be-
lieve his meaning to be, that his developed drug-virtues act simi-
larly to one of the known imponderabilia, since he considers, (at
the end of his Organon, and in his Mat. Med. Vol. II.) physical as
well as animal magnetism, as specific remedies, and highly recom-
mends them as adjuvants to his other drugs if they fail to ope
rate, notwithstanding their almost unconditional action. If Hahne-
mann does not consider his developed drug-virtues as operating

216

precisely like one of the known imponderabilia, but as different
specific ones, similar only, but in regard to their imponderability,
not identical, then he has not merely enriched the medical pro-
fession with many millions of new salutary powers, but also na-
tural philosophy with as many imponderabilia as there are sub-
stances, because, as we have seen, drug-virtues may be developed
from all natural substances. — Indeed ! it is strange that no phi-
losopher, in fact, that no man, except Hahnemann, has hitherto dis-
covered any one of this immense number of imponderabilia. As
every great agent of that kind has only an influence on the living
body, in so far as it corresponds more or less to its general operation
in nature, it would be very singular if the homoeopathic impon-
derabilia alone, should act exclusively on the human body, and did
not manifest their existence by some other natural phenomena.
The considerations, that the knowledge of the laws of nature is now
much advanced, the principles of natural science simplified, since
agents hitherto regarded as different, are now proved to be iden-
tical ; farther, that Hahnemann manufactures at once millions
of imponderable agents, which he is unable to explain, except
but by a comparatively few, most uncertain and delusive experi-
ments on healthy and diseased persons, which are also observed
only by him and his adherents, — we say these considerations
alone should shake all confidence in his doctrine in the eyes of
every impartial judge.

If, as we might suppose from the paragraph quoted above, Hah-
nemann distinctly considers his potenzised drug as similar to a kind
of idea, a thought, or a passion ; then we see no propriety in pre-
scribing for patients, either imponderabilia homceopathically de-
veloped from drugs, or those evolved by an electrical machine, a
magnet, &c. since then a psychical treatment only would be suf-
ficient ; thus in a bilious fever we could best succeed by prescrib-
ing a homoeopathic dose of anger ; in dropsy, apoplexy, especially
if arising from want of food or from other great distress, we could
recommend only a homoeopathic dose of sorrow and affliction ; in
erotomania, a homoeopathic dose of love ; and the itch, this very
pandsemon of all chronic diseases, would likewise be best cured by
some of those passions, which must be considered as the best an-
tipsorics, for the reasons above mentioned.

Those who become acquainted with homoeopathia and Hali-
nemannism by some of its votaries, are quite inadvertent to the

217

magnitude of numbers, with winch this doctrine abounds, and are so
much startled by its vague conceptions, that, considering the im-
mense divisibility of mallei, and the influence of the finest par-
ticles of many substances upon our senses, they become satisfied
by a summary decision in regard to the similar action of agents
called imponderabilia, and also to those phenomena which depend
on the great divisibility of matter itself

We are far from referring all phenomena in universal nature,
and much less in organized living bodies, to the action of palpable
matter. We are also quite ignorant wherein any power really
exists, and know only how to distinguish generally in the living
hotly, that which excites its reaction, from the reaction itself. All
vital reaction is termed dynamical, in order to distinguish it from
the physical and chemical powers, though they always appear, if
not to depend upon, at least to be connected with, and modified by
matter, which must be considered as their common hearer, since
all the physical and chemical powers of nature reside in matter.

This intimate connexion between power and matter frustrated
the deepest and acutest metaphysical researches of the greatest
philosophers, and will never be satisfactorily explained by any
mortal being, because all matter appears to our external senses as
finite, while infinity is the ideal abstract of power, and we cannot
imagine that any power can cease to act otherwise than by another
counteracting one, where of course the seeming passivity consists
likewise in a counteraction. Matter and power, or the substance and
the accident of metaphysicians, appear therefore to us widely differ-
ent, and in our finite existence we are more able indistinctly to
imagine, than clearly to conceive, how one can result from, or be
combined with the other. Our notion of the infinite is, when
properly analyzed, only negative, or opposite to finite; and we
should think, that if we could ever acquire an exact positive and
minute insight into the infinite, the impenetrable mystery with
which Providence has veiled from us the existence of all things
and of ourselves would disappear 1 .* It may be therefore only par-

* The fact that man can imagine and sull more comprehend, at least indirectly,
what infinity is, and can use formulae of infinite magnitudes for minute and correct
calculations, may prove that the human mind or whatever name we miylit give io the
cause of the human understanding, belongs to another world, since it appears in-
consistent to think, that an infinite property can depend upon ;i finite substance. We
cannol pursue any farther these researches, which embrace the most subtile anti-
,,l (!,,. human mind ; but in opposition to Hahnemann's frantic opinion about
the infinite power in Ins drugs and the limited powers of the vital functions, the prin-
tMule of life itself appears to the philosopher minute m all organized bodies ; and to-

P 28

218

donable in men like Hahnemann and his followers, to use the
expressions of infinite in a positive sense, when they wish to ex-
plain the great divisibility of matter. If for instance, one grain of
musk fills a large hall, so as to be recognized by our sense of smell
in every point of that hall, without losing any perceptible part of its
weight after months or years ; what else does this prove, than the
great divisibility of this substance, and that the sphere of perception
of our olfactory nerves is greater than that of our optic and other
nerves ? Does it follow therefrom, that the matter of musk becomes
transmuted into an infinite spirit, or must be considered as a more
powerful drug than a hundred others not so spontaneously divisible
and volatile, much more than opium, arsenic, &c. Does it
follow therefrom, that wherever musk is applicable as a remedy,
we must abstain from giving it in the usual allopathic dose of from
two to twenty grains, but that it would be sufficient to let the
patient enter every four or six weeks a large hall, and breathe for
a moment its atmosphere, pregnant with the self-developed virtue of
one grain ? Perhaps homceopathists will consider this useless, be-
cause miserable nature only, and not their duly consecrated hands
have developed the infinite virtue of musk !* The thick fibres of

preside in the same manner over the life of the largest whale as over the infusory
insect ; in a Laplace, Cuvier and Kant, as well as in the greatest idiot ; the essence
appears to be the same, but its manifestation in every individual depends upon the
individual organization, — may this manifestation consist only in automatically observ-
ing external objects or in the self-consciousness of a higher origin and destination.
To think any power developed by man from unorganized dead substances, equal or
even paramount to the vital powers, is therefore the 'greatest madness which can be
imagined. — u Pour ne pas lombcr dans une crrcur grave, nc perdons pas devue, que
Dieu, etre infini, se manifestc a nous etre finis, par lefini. Dans cctte manifestation,
il est senti par chacun et par tons, aussi bicn un que multiple. Dieu est tout, mais
nous avons notrc existence propre. Ce rfcstqu'a la condition de tenir compte a lafois dc
l'unite et de la multiplicity, que nous pouvons concilier les intercts generaux avec
les inter ets particulicrs, la morale publique avec la morale privec ; e'est par la seulement
que nous serons parfaitcment religieux." — (St. Simon.)

* Hahnemann in his Materia Medica (Vol. I. page 315) prescribes only the decil-
lionth dilution of musk, and recommends it especially against hypochondria. It is
difficult to combine this his advice with another remark on the same page, alluding
to a very uncomfortable after-operation of musk, which would not well suit the people
of " Egypt, the land of monsters;" and of all other countries where seraglios are
kept. On account of this very prejudicial after-operation of musk, it might be ad-
visable for authors on Materia Medica to expunge this article from the apparatus
medicaminum, and for the druggists not to speculate in it ; since, besides that one
bag of musk will be sufficient for all Europe and America for centuries, the use of
musk will be proscribed in all the oriental countries, as soon as the "great truth with
all its blessings" is known there. We might suppose with propriety, that all the
govern.Tients which have particular reason to promote the rapid increase of popula-
tion, and especially the governments of North and South America, will soon prohibit
the importation of such a destructive article.— In tliis manner we evidently see the
true charcter of this "gigantic work," since the most tyrannical and the most repub-
lican governments arc alike highly interested in attentively listening to and applying the

219

a small piece of meat are divisible into those which are so small as
to be imperceptible by the best microscope ; does it follow from this,
that the decoction of such a microscopic fibre will afford the patient
as much, or even more nourishment, after a homoeopathic mani-
pulation of this "natural substance," than a strong broth, made
allopathically from some pounds of meat, because a nutritious im-
ponderable virtue or spirit has been developed by the homoeopathic
division ?

We are by no means justified in asserting the absolute imponder-
ability of the so called imponderabilia. Light is curved and reflected
by certain bodies under certain angles, and under other circum-
stances. Caloric distends bodies, if imparted to them in a larger
quantity than their specific capacity for it can sustain. Electricity
acts by its transition from one body to another, and by its distribu-
tion over the surface of bodies, in many respects like other ponder-
able fluids. These facts, among many others, prove therefore, that
the imponderabilia, as they are termed, fill up a certain space,
which they relinquish by force, that their motion from one place
to another requires a certain time, and that they must therefore be
considered at least as dependent on, or connected with matter, per-
haps with more propriety as matter itself. Probably they are all
ponderable, though by their nature, either the general laws of
gravity are altered and modified by the bodies on which they act,
particularly because their action is prominently a chemical one, (in
which generally the laws of gravity, as all the other mechanical
laws of nature, are more or less suspended ;) or our scales are, and
probably ever will be too imperfect to weigh them.*

"great truth." — The old philosopher, to whom the after-operation of musk as alluded
to, might have become by the while indifferent,

" Nee tenet, omnia paullatim tabescere et ire
"Ad scopulum, spatio a^tatis defessa vetusto." — Lucr.
will pardon us, when we think it a little overhasty to recommend it against hypochon-
dria; since, however beneficial its first-operation may be for such unfortunate persons,
we are exceedingly anxious concerning its after-operation, as we are taught by him
and Dr. Hering, (on page 14, Concise View,) that " medicines do not become salutary
"by their direct effects," &c.; "but they are salutary by reason of their after-opera-
" tion." In this case homoeopathists will have some particular difficulty tomake both
ends meet, viz: the salutary after-operation and the promotion of "domestic felicity,"
both so inseparable from all the other blessings of homoeopathia (see Concise View,
page 29.)

*The best scales ever made are those of the celebrated Fortin at Pans, being with
a weight of four pounds, sensible to the fiftieth part of a grain, which is equal to

i of the weight, and those of Florenz at Vienna, with a weight of 4J pounds,

are sensible to 1 of the same. According to our calculations made above,

the absolute weight of V sphere containing many thousands of motes, would however
not be determinable by these and much finer scales, and this sphere would seemingly
appear to us imponderable, though nobody will deny that a mote, obeying the laws of

'220

Un closer reflection, every person of common sense will consider
Hahnemann's expression, t: let a substance be divided into any
" number of parts, its smallest imaginable part will still contain
"something of this substance, and can therefore never become a
nonentity," as nothing else than what every one knows, viz. that
a pound of a substance consists of so many ounces, drachms, grains,
and as many smallest fractions of a grain, as we are pleased to
imagine ; or also that every power must be considered as a com-
pound of as many small momenta, as we are willing to make by
a division which can be likewise continued ad infinitum. We
know by experience, that this expression and similar common-
place explanations of Hahnemann are considered by his followers
as the greatest wisdom ever uttered by a philosopher, and that
principally for these reasons, considered by them incontrovertible
proofs of his doctrine, they cannot be made sensible of the absur-
dity, contained in his advice to prescribe only the smallest doses
of homoeopathic drugs. We see that this third maxim of homoeo-
pathia is yet in itself much more absurd than the two former; the
greatest nonsense contained in it is, however, that the single part of

gravity by its falling to the ground in a calm, is a ponderable matter, and would weigh
upwards of a thousand millionth part of one grain, if we were possessed of such deli
cate scales. — It would almost appear that Hahnemann has already invented much
finer scales for his chiromantical experiments; it is however very singular and is a part
of the high wisdom, only intelligible to homceopathists, that, as we have seen him value
exactly the weight of the fluid which passes from the magnet, "at one ccnlillionth part
of a grain" — a trifle only equal to one divided by one with six hundred zeros, — he,
with this minute knowledge of the real weight of the magnetic matter, nevertheless
asserts it. to be imponderable. We wish that Dr. Hering, or another intimate dis-
ciple of Hahnemann, would be pleased to solve also this great enigma, how anything
can be weighed up to one centillionth part of one grain, and yet be imponderable] and
to enrich the world with the construction of such marvelous scales, the great advantages
of which are so obvious. The opinion, that a magnetic fluid passes from the magnet
to the steel, and imparts the magnetic fluid to the latter, is erroneous; though often
emphatically expressed by homreopathists in support of their doctrine. The two
opposite magnetic powers or fluids are already slumbering in the steel, previous to its
coming in any relation to the magnet, and this equilibrium of the two fluids being
disturbed by the approach of one pole of a magnet to the smallest point of the steel,
extends quickly to the whole mass of the latter in such a manner, that in its smallest
sections, the homogeneous fluid is repelled and the heterogeneous fluid attracted, until
by these mutual attractions and repulsions, both endsof the steel show respectively the
north and the south poles ; resembling in that respect the electricity of the largest
conductor, in which from the beginning of the developement by the machine, plus
electricity immediately collects at one end, and minus electricity at the other. This
explanation of magnetism communicated to a piece of steel, is corroborated by the
facts, that the steel which, when in connexion with the magnet, shows all the proper-
ties of the latter, loses again these peculiarities immediately on being disengaged
from the magnet; farther, that the steel may be magnetized without the aid of a magnet,
by being hammered, turned, exposed to the violet light of the sunbeams, by being
heated red hot and suddenly cooled in cold water, in a perpendicular direction, &c.
Magnetism is therefore in every respect not a suitable subject for homceopathists to
explain the operations of their drug-virtues, and they, in reforming medicine, better
insist upon their implicit belief in magic and witchcraft than to reform in this manner
natural philosophy also.

22!

a whole is greater than the whole itself, and that, notwithstanding,
the infinite nature of the drug-virtues begins to become developed
at the eighteenth dilution, and reaches its beneficial degree gener-
ally at the thirtieth ; though according to his last suggestion, (see
Chron. Diseases, Vol. I., page 209,) much higher dilutions should
be used, as no dilution whatever can be considered too small; a direc-
tion which still more demonstrates that he thinks the smallest part
of any thing is not merely something, but more than its larger part.
It must also be difficult for any man of common sense to conceive,
how an infinite being can ever arise from a finite one, and much
less that an infinite being should be finite only on one side ; — which
would be the grossest contradictio in adjecto, provided this great
philosopher would not assert, that his potenzised or developed drug-
virtues are to be considered similar to the two branches of a parabole
or the four branches of an hyperbole with their asymptotes— which,
according to the doctrine of conic sections, are finite on one and
infinite on the other side.

Even all these extravagant fancies admitted ; what reason can
Hahnemann assign for still continuing to recommend for some
of his drugs, the third, sixth, &c. dilution, all of which are so
many billion times inferior to the eighteenth, at which point he
asserts all homoeopathic virtues begin to be developed? The
experiment has not yet been made to our knowledge, and Hahne-
mann wisely says nothing about it; but we would seriously ask him
and his followers, whether, if all the remnants of the homoeopathic
dilutions of arsenic, sulphur, calcarea, &c, from the eighteenth up
to the thirtieth degree of development should be collected, they
verily believe, that these, together with the dilutions made pre-
viously to the eighteenth, would not contain the original grain?
or if he himself, Dr. Hering, or any one of his faithful adherents,
would confidently swallow the remnants of different homoeopathic
developments, for instance of arsenic, under the impression that
the arsenic has become transmuted into an infinite spirit, an infinite
being, an imponderable, <fec, which " no longer possess those long
" continued effects of a prejudicial character, which we have so
" frequently to witness from the crude articles." — (See Dr. Bering's
Concise View, page 14.) We believe that chemical analysis will
certainly find in a sufficient quantity of such remnants, the sub-
stance from which the homoeopathic virtue was developed ; but
then we may justly ask, by what kind of a new miracle these

222

virtues, spirits, infinite beings, imponderables, thoughts or passions,
have been transmuted back again, and per synthesin into the
substantial finite grains of arsenic, sulphur, &c.

It is indeed very ridiculous for Hahnemann to refer to the exacti-
tude of mathematicians, as we have seen above. If he had ever
possessed the slightest conception of the elements of this science,
which he recommends to his followers as the best means for close
thinking, he would have known the proper meaning of mathe-
matical infinity in irrational numbers, in the series of converging
fractions, &c.; he would have been aware, that in every problem
into which such infinite magnitudes enter, or from which a ratio
of the finite to the infinite part results, the mathematician can
take so much of the latter as the minute exactness of the problem
and its solution require, leaving the remaining infinite part un-
noticed as nullity, or as a magnitude which has absolutely disap-
peared, in respect to the finite magnitude required for the object in
view. Every well educated pupil of a good classic school, knows
that the ratio of the diameter to the circumference of a circle, or
that any even root of numbers not divisible by four, is irrational ;
but still the square contents of the surface of a circle or the cubic
contents of a sphere, if ever so large or small, may be calculated
with the greatest requisite exactness, though the infinite part of
the ratio is neglected as a nullity. The astronomer loses relatively
nothing by disregarding the infinite part of magnitudes, after he
has used them according to the rules of the differential and integral
calculus, by which he is even taught to consider them at least as
disappearing; but he uses frequently the signs for the infinitely large
and the infinitely small with the same facility as he uses all signs
of finite magnitudes; his solution of a problem, generally embracing,
what people not enlightened by homoeopathia, formerly used to call
immense magnitudes, proves so perfectly correct, that he can cal-
culate the heavenly phenomena for centuries to come, as well as
for the next hour. If mathematicians and astronomers had always
thought it necessary to pursue another way, agreeable to Hahne-
mann's whimsical suggestions, that the most infinite part must
always be minutely noticed ; all ages which have past, and all
those which are to come, would be insufficient to solve one problem;
not one of the immense multitude of interesting and indispensable
calculations could ever have been finished, and natural philo-
sophy, astronomy, &c, would have remained, and still remain in

223

their infancy. No astronomer has, to our knowledge, as yet been
obliged minutely to consider a ratio between one and the 120th
power of ten, used by Hahnemann in his 60th developed power of
the Thuya occidentalis, or the tree of life. (See Materia Medica, Vol.
V., page 123.) — Indeed, if a Hahnemann can claim with propriety,
much greater exactitude for his infallible method of curing all
diseases than mathematicians and even astronomers aim at ; then
his remarkable declaration, " every one must admit that the heal-
ing art has not existed before me" (preface, 4th edition of the Or-
ganon,) is likewise correct.

From the immense quantity of hare-brained nonsense which
distinguishes this " new art of healing," much of which our
limits oblige us to omit, we must notice the following assertion
contained in Hahnemann's works, (see his Treatise on Chronic
Diseases, Organon, &c.,) and also in Dr. Hering's Concise View.
The latter says, in accordance with Hahnemann's assertion, on
page 20, " The preparations ought not therefore to be transmitted
" from place to place in a fluid state, because their energy is liable
" to be excessively increased by the long continued, though moderate
" agitation, which they thus undergo."

A man who asserted, that mere mechanical division candevelope
from all natural substances, a power bordering on miracles, could
not complete his vast nonsense better, than by referring to other
phenomena, which also nobody but himself and his infatuated
adherents pretend to have observed, and which, if most distantly
confirmed, would produce far greater and more extensive changes
in all the relations of human society than any discovery, not
excepting even the art of printing and the discovery of Columbus.
It is obvious that no science, no art, no occupation or situation of
private or social life, from the most peaceful to the most warlike,
would remain unchanged and unbenefited to the highest degree,
if this statement of the " great benefactor of mankind" were true.
Volumes filled only with the description of all the changes and
blessings, arising from this discovery, would be insufficient to
exhaust the subject. What a benefit for travellers, since they
would require only to provide themselves, at the commencement of
their long journey, with a bottle of good madeira, which is certainly
a natural production, and a medicinal fluid too, (Organon p. 73)
from which they can have every day a few glasses ; if they are care-
ful to supply the bottle with pure water; — nay ! the madeira will,

224

by the " agitation" caused in riding, &c. probably become changed
into a much nobler and milder soil of wine, perhaps into old hock,
champaign, or lacrymae chiisti ; since, according to homceopathia,
" medicines which had undergone these operations, no longer pos-
" sessed those long continued effects of a prejudicial character,
" which we so frequently have to witness from the crude articles,
" (see Dr. Hering, 1. c. p. 14) and (on p. 20), it was the energy,
" the virtue only which was thereby so astonishingly unfolded."*

* Homoeopathists will consider these deductions, from Hahnemann's assertions, as
misrepresentations, since he says expressly, (Organon, p. 299) that the actions of wine
and alcohol are diminished hy sufficient dilutions ; but, if we remember his sugges-
tions quoted above, about the use of wine as a powerful remedy in inflammatory dis-
eases, and reflect with impartiality on his doctrine about the devolopment of virtues
from all natural substances, the reader will find our deductions not to be far-fetched.
Since these remarks were written, we have read the " Letter to the physicians of
" France, on homceopathia, by Count des Guidi, M. D., translated from the French
" by Dr. William Channing, New-York, 1834." Similar to all those works on ho-
mceopathia, which are mostly composed by Counts, Barons, Chevaliers d'industrie,
and similar personages, this is also one of the flattest literary productions we have
ever seen from an obscure man, and, even up to the modest comparison of Hahne-
mann with Galileo and Columbus, almost a fac simile of Dr. Hering's Concise View.
We confess, that we never heard before that such a man existed, though we can boast
of some knowledge of modern foreign literature, and we were indeed not more fortu-
nate in our inquiries of other medical men. We should think also that the zealous
translator, who was not only anxious to make his countrymen minutely acquainted
with all the titles, dignities and functions of his author, but also, in his motto, invoked
the " heavens" for his admired new healing art, would have, at least, mentioned the
other medical works which have emanated from the pen of Monsieur le Docteur Count
des Guidi, if such exists, or to have proved his high standing in the profession by
facts. But the able translator appears to have been so much enchanted with the
acuteness and consistency displayed in this letter, that, excepting a few pathetic intro-
ductory lines, he abstained from all remarks. The conclusions, which we have drawn
above, in regard to the virtues developed from nourishment, are also confirmed by
this author, who became enraptured with this new medical doctrine, because his wife
was cured by it; he does not say exactly of what disease. He teaches us, on page 16,
that wine or coffee, diluted with water or milk, stimulates and intoxicates more easily
and strongly, than if taken unmixed. To prove these experiments observed by him, he
emphatically exclaims, on page 20 : " Life ! how little matter it sometimes demands
" for its resuscitation, even in that function which is most strictly and servilely bound
"to matter, Nutrition'! See that man sinking with weariness and hunger; repose
" and abundant aliment are indispensable, fully to restore his exhausted forces and to
" repair his withered and impoverished organs ; and yet a single mouthful of bread, a
" piece of sugar, a spoonful of wine, a mere alimentary atom, when compared with
" the wants of his case, will forthwith revive, and for some hours sustain those failing
" masses, inspiring with a breath of vigour that vast machine shattered and falling
" into ruins." Does this Monsieur le Count Docteur, and his able translator, con-
sider a mouthful of bread to be a homoeopathic dose 1 If so, the loaf to which it be-
longed would cover, at least, all Kurope. Could any inference be drawn from his
remark, except the common experience, that if a lamp is about to be extinguiihed
from want of oil, it will be revived for a short time by a few drops of it ! He adds
also, on page 16, in support of homceopathia, a quotation from Dr. St. Marie, who ap-
peared to have some notions of homceopathia, without knowing any thing of Hahne-
mann and his doctrine, and who found it so striking that, " Cullen had already re-
" marked, that calves were better nourished and more easily fatted, when the milk
" with which they were fed, was diluted with an equal quantity of water, than when
" given to them without dilution." Is that an argument lor the correctness o\ homoeo-
pathic doses'! Is it, not known to every body, that men as well as annuals, and even
plants, grow thin and sickly, when loo richly fed, or in too rich a soil, but sto
healthy, when fed and nourished with due regard to their digestive and assimilative

225

Farther, there would be no danger ol famine in countries possess-
ing merely the slightest nutritious substance, and good water or
sugar of milk, since a small quantity of spirituous drink, by its
immensely developed virtue, might take the place, for some time
of substantial food. We have reason to hope also, that this va-
luable discovery will soon be completed by the art of " potenzisr
" ing" from a few grains of wheat, corn or rice, or a few crumbs
of stale bread, nourishing virtues sufficient for millions of men.*

powers ! docs lie not know that all living organized beings are nourished, not by the
ingesta, but by the digesta, ana that we shall find the old proverb, " omne nimium ver-
titur in contrarium," confirmed here also. Are the expressions, to be healthy and fat,
synonymous ? Is he so ignorant of physiology as not to know, that all substances,
which retard the lively circulation of the blood, and which weaken to a certain degree
the constitution of animals,may favour obesity, which is therefore already considered by
Ca;lius Aurelianus as a morbid symptom, and as a disease 1 The justly celebrated Bi-
chal, likewise, in his excellent Anatomic Generate, considers, very correctly, obesity as
arising from the weakness of the absorbent vessels ; Darwin, and many other distin-
guished physicians, also regarded it as the consequence of debility. Does he not
know an old experiment frequently tried by European farmers, and often quoted by
physiologists, if we are not mistaken, even by Albertus Haller, in his physiology, that
calves and other domestic animals, are frequently bled to make them more fat 1 Is
bleeding therefore, also, in his opinion, as good a homoeopathic remedy, to become
" better nourished and more easily fatted," as starving; though both are so much
condemned by homoeopathists? Indeed ! the ratiocinations of these philosophers are so
very singular, that the author of homoeopathia, or one of his disciples, would benefit
mankind by publishing also a new system of logic, as we have reason to expect from
their pre-eminent mathematical talents, a new theory of magnitudes, a new arith-
metic, &c. — The Americans learn also from Monsieur le Count Docteur des Guidi, that
they possess numerous schools for homoeopathia, and as his report has been translated,
published, and its statements therefore silently admitted by one of their own professional
men, they will of course be credited abroad. Such are the common manoeuvres of these
popular authors on homoeopathia; to make themselves mutually conspicuous as emi-
nent authors and practitioners, and to prove the rapid increase of their party in all
countries, they say in America, that in Germany, France, Italy, &c. the first and
oldest medical men have zealously adopted this new healing art ; in the countries
mentioned they say, in return, the same of America. Mendacia reciproca, et ex
utraque parte, quandoque magno usui esse possunt. — Livius.

* Since these lines were written, we have again been delighted with a new and strik-
ing proof of the great blessings of homoeopathia, promoted by its faithful votaries in
this new world. We were not aware that " the great philosopher, who has beaten a
" new path on all sides," and is constantly labouring for discovering " great truths,"
had condescended to direct his attention, most graciously, to the science of cookery,
and to the developement of virtues from some substances, which we thought to be be-
low his sphere, and that he really has commenced what our sanguine hopes only
anticipated above. A homoeopathic chocolate is publicly recommended by the leading
homoeopathists in Philadelphia and this city, Drs. Constantine Hering, Hans U.
Gramm, John F. Gray, and Win. Channing, as preferable for sick and weak persons
to any other preparation of this article. Dr. Hering states in his certificate, that this
homccopathic chocolate is made exactly according to Hahnemann's prescription, com-
municated to thp manufacturer, and that as it is less oleaginous than other kinds, it
deserves particularly to be used also for children. Unable to find in Hahnemann's
works a chocolate of his invention, and supposing, therefore, that he was pleased to
communicate his new arcanum solely to his particularly beloved disciples, we can only
make a few conjectures about it. The diminution or exclusion of the oleaginous
part of cocoa, by which it is rendered less rich for the stomach, has long been recom-
mended and practised ; the manufacturers, by an easy and cheap process, gain the
oleaginous part, or, as it is cdled, the butter of cocoa, which is particularly mild and
less subject than similar substances to become rancid, and therefore is worth more
than the cocoa itself; hence the homoeopathic chocolate should be cheaper than any

29

226

We dare not allude any further to the immense changes which
will take place in the political condition of nations, when all fear
of famine is entirely removed. What a blessing to poor poople, if
there are any hereafter who can be so called, that benevolence can
be exercised towards them so cheaply! A large family may for years
daily enjoy the same bottle of wine, provided they will only de-
velope its virtues ! We know not how the temperance societies will
be able to counteract intemperance, which we see is again thus in-
directly promoted by homoeopathia ! — All governments, and espe-
cially those of the United States, should henceforth prohibit any
passenger, travelling any great distance by mail, from carrying
any medicinal fluid with him, since a small vial of an innocent
cordial, or even a solution of one grain of table salt, may become
changed, after such a shaking, into an immensely developed power
of the most violent poison, the smell of which, " by its intensely
" raised energy," might kill thousands of men ! — We will seriously
mention what would long since, probably, have been the inevitable
consequences, if only a homoeopathic fraction of this frantic non-
sense were true. No animal could exist on the shores of a large
lake, if only one grain of arsenic, or one poisoned rat had ac-
cidentally fallen into it, during a moderately shaking hurricane.
If a small package of this, or of any similar soluble and strong

prepared cocoa. If a homoeopathic dose of any drug be mysteriously mixed in each
portion, the price cannot possibly be enhanced by it, since, even if it were many mil-
lion times dearer than the purest gold, one grain of such a drug would be by far too
much, if our whole globe, with all its continents, islands, mountains, oceans, lakes,
&c. were transmuted into homoeopathic chocolate. If this chocolate consists merely
in the homceopathically developed virtue of the fruit of the nobleTheobroma, the price
of course ought also to be less, as the labour of rubbing down such an atom cannot much
increase the value of any cheap unmedicinal substance added. But, nevertheless,
this chocolate is dearer, its taste is less agreeable, (at least for our own allopathic
palate), and it is apparently, in every respect, an article far inferior to many others
of that kind prepared in this or any other country. What is the cause of this higher
price? Avoiding conjectures, pardonable in those who remember the alcali pneum, the
arcanum against scarlet fever, and the introductory lines to the work on chronic dis-
eases above mentioned, &c. of the old benefactor of mankind, we believe that it is
only to sustain the homoeopathic maxim, in regard to the inverse ratio between mat-
ter, (the quality of cocoa) and power, (its piice.) We hope that either the " old
" philosopher" himself, or some of his disciples, who combine with their distinguished
professional talents and acquirements an apician taste for cookery, will soon apply them
in benefiting the people of this free country with homoeopathic cakes, pastries, pies,
sausages, &c. so that " a treasure like this new art may quickly be estimated in ade-
" gree commensurate with its real value ; sooner than by the kings and princes of
" Europe, who impede the progress of the new art by processes, penalties and bay-
" onets," (see Dr. Hering, 1. c. p. 29) ; and who do not deserve to have a taste even
of these homoeopathic delicacies, unless they soon rescind their processes, penalties
and bayonets, and humbly submit to Samuel Hahnemann and his heavenly doctrine !
as he, himself, calls his discoveries, saying, on page 7, Vol. III. of his Materia Me-
dica, with Virgil, " ignea inest illis vis et colestis origo."

227

poisonous substance, had ever been swept from a wreck into the
Dcean during a tornado, by which we think it would be as well
ihaken, as a small vial is by a stout man's arm in a few minutes ;
ill fishes, and all monsters of the deep, not excepting even the
arge sea-serpent, would long since have died.* No human being,
or other animal, could live in or near any place, where large che-
mical factories of corrosive sublimate, blue vitriol, (fee. are situated.
Water, which has only run for a short time through copper or
leaden pipes, would seriously injure many, as every one will admit
that water propelled by steam or any other power, will develope the
noxious properties of copper or lead in a few seconds, more than can
be done in several hours by a stout man. According to Hahne-
mann's opinion in regard to the great divisibility of all contagious
matter, which he cites in support of his developed drug-virtues, no
contagious disease, adhering even to letters at a distance of many
hundred miles, could ever become extinct, and one rabid dog
thrown into a large river, would infect all those who bathe in it,
when their bodies are but slightly scratched. If a person should
have taken one grain or less of table salt, or should accidentally
have swallowed, during dinner, a similarly small quantity of char-
coal, both of which occur to many persons daily, and, instead of
taking a nap afterwards, should take a ride, he must either be in-
stantly killed, or be affected with some of the 895 serious and dan-
gerous symptoms produced by the virtue developed from table-
salt, or of the 930 of those produced from charcoal, (see Chr. Dis.

* It appears from Hahnemann's Materia Medica, 2d ed. vol. vi. p. 4. that the dan-
ger arising from one grain of a medicinal substance falling into a large lake has been
already objected to him. He answers in his usual dictatorial manner, that such objec-
tions are utterly foolish, because the mixture in ever so large a quantity of water
could never be so intimate as in each solution, made separately by two strong shakes,
viz. "with the arm from above downwards." (See Organon, p. 299, note.)— From be-
low upwards would not answer this purpose. We leave this his defence to the

judgment of those who have witnessed a stiff breeze at sea, to say nothing of a hurri-
cane, and who may justly believe that the many millions of grains of salts, etc. dis-
solved in the ocean, might have been shaken enough, in the course of centuries, to
make each drop of sea-water a strong homoeopathic drug or poison, as well as the
few shakings of a solution of one grain of table-salt by the arm of a homceopathist,
"from above downwards," can develope a virtue so efficacious that it must be inhaled
only once every month.— Dr. Hering must have had an uncommonly pleasant voyage,
when coming from Europe, otherwise we should think his opinion about the virtue
developed by shaking the bottle would have been shaken also.— We once accidentally
noticed in Fr. Bacon's works, on page 429, in vol. ii. of the new London ed. of 1824,
a singular passage, which we could not explain, but which appears to be connected
perhaps with an old English saying about shaking the bottle.-" Many men," he says,
» especial lv such as affect gravity, have a manner, after other men s speeches, to
" shake their heads. A great officer of this land would say, It was as men shake a
" bottle, to see if there were any wits in their heads or no."

228

Vol. IV. pp. 67 and 534.) Only;) man, like Hahnemann, who

considers his wretched knowledge the highest wisdom, and his
miserable aid to he far superior to the operations of natine, which
he regards (as he expresses himself in the preface to his Organon),
as " unavailing, contrary to reasonable design and without sense,
could believe also, that his arms, or those of his faithful adepts,
are better able to develope the drug-virtues from table-salt, charcoal,
flint, (fee. than the stomach, especially when its muscular action is
supported by the fast trotting of a horse, or any similar exercise ;
an action, so powerful in itself, that nothing in art is to be com-
pared with it. when we consider that by it, and by the chemical
influence of the gastric and other digestive juices, a homogeneous,
mild and salutary pulp is prepared from perhaps fifty heterogeneous
kinds of food and drink at a fashionable dinner, and which, ac-
cording to Fontana, destroys also the virus of the viper ; while Bos-
quillon states, that even the hydrophobic matter loses its fatal
properties ; a power which Paracelsus, (this truly eminent man,
who resembled Hahnemann only in quackery, which however
was more pardonable in him, considering the age in which he
lived) so highly appreciated, terming this power, " the great master
" of alchymy in the stomach. 1 '*

To crown all the absurdities which the instances alleged in
confirmation of this maxim of homceopathia offer, we shall amuse
our readers with one more statement of the many which Dr. Her-
ing probably forgot to quote in his unparalleled panegyrics of the
competitor of" Galileo and Columbus." (C. V. pp. 9, 10.)

A German, one of the many unprofessional men who are infatu-
ated with the homoeopathic doctrine and delighted with its practice,
probably a disciple of Hahnemann, has taken the very great trou-
ble to prepare, partly in snow- and partly in spring-water, exactly
according to the direction of Hahnemann, the fifteen hundredth
dilution of sulphur, and pretends to have found very distinct me-

* One lie always leads to another. Hahnemann's assertion in regard to the im-
mense changes produced in the fluid preparations of all medical suhstances by their
transmission from place to place, is so extravagant, that he must have been obliged to
make this statement as a consequence of his developed drug-virtues, just as the latter
was forced upon him by his second maxim. We have seen that this maxim, or his false
interpretation of similia similibus curantur originated with him, after accidentally ob-
serving, that the symptoms produced in healthy persons by drugs, resembled those of
some natural dis eases : as allopathic doses used in such a manner would injure, he
was obliged to reduce these doses to almost nothing ; and then, to explain their ac-
tion, he was forced to broach the doctrine of developed drug-virtues. Now, if these
drug-virtues had been developed merely by two shakes downwards, it would have
appeared too palpably like magic or witchcraft ; and to do away with this impression,
he says, the virtues are developed also by transmission from place to place.

229

dical virtues in one drop of this presumed solution. Hahnemann,
in a postscript to a public statement of this unique experiment,
(see Archiv fuer homceopathische Heilkunde, vol. xi. no. 2. p. 67.
according to the quotation of Dr. Kopp, 1. e. p. 71), fully agrees
with the author in the marvellous operation of this dilution ;
though he adds, (Chr. Dis. vol. iv. p. 338), that the 30th dilution
of sulphur may not only be considered as the mildest, but also as

the most developed preparation of this substance. Now let the

reader observe, that sulphur is considered, by all ancient and mo-
dern chemists, to be insoluble in water; further that, admitting even
the snow-water to be quite pure, and sulphur to be soluble in wa-
ter, the purest spring water contains, when compared with the
1500th dilution of sulphur, an immense surplus of earths, salts,
iron, and other ingredients, almost all of which are considered by
Hahnemann as powerful medicinal substances, from which drug-
virtues must become developed by the same process : furthermore,
that the 1500 vials of glass, or any similar substance probably used
in this experiment, would likewise impart to the solution, by the
3000 necessary shakes, a proportionally much larger quantity of
potash, and particularly of silicea, this powerful homoeopathic re-
medy, unless these drugs and remedial agents are excluded by
miracles or witchcraft : and last, not least, that this 1 500th dilu-
tion of one grain is equal to one divided by one with 3000 zeros,
or is the 3000th power often !

It is easily ascertained, that the very large number, expressing
the distance of the nearest fixed star, Syrius, from our globe, in
inches or any considerably small fraction of an inch, is a mere
trifle, and less than any imaginable small magnitude, in compari-
son with this fraction ; and that the distance from our globe to
anv heavenly body, observable only by the greatest refractor ex-
isting, even expressed by inches or geometrical lines, would also
appear a trifle, when compared to the 3000th power of ten.* —
Who would not exclaim, on seeing such unparalleled nonsense in
print : — Helleborum hjsce hominibus opus est !

* The greatest diameter of our globe being 595,072,000, let us say one with nine
zeros in inches ; the greatest distance of the sun from our globe being 2800 times
as much, his distance in inches is 1,666,201,600,000, or about one with twelve zeros ;
Syrius, according to Hnygen's calculation, is about 30,000 times this distance, or
30000000000000000 in inches ; we. will say, one with 17 zeros : this number is less
by one with 43 zeros, when compared with Hahnemann's usual 30th dilution, and by
one with 2983 zeros less than Hie above-mentioned 1500th dilution of one grain of
sulphur.

230

" Somnia, terrores magicos, miracula, sagas,

" Noctuinos Iemures, portentaque Thessala." Hor.

We would advise the enlightened member of the chamber of de-
puties in Baden, who insisted upon having a professorship exclu-
sively for the homoeopathic doctrine at Heidelberg, (the oldest
and most distinguished university in Germany, founded in 1346,
which always was, and still is, particularly at present, distinguish-
ed for the most ingenious and talented professors of medicine and
surgery) ; as we also would recommend to all the admirers and
amateurs of homoeopathia, to take a slate and pencil, and ascertain
what the homoeopathic remedies, their dilutions, triturations, do-
ses, potenzised powers and developed virtues really are. If they
are not cured of their mental disease by this simple experiment,
nothing in the world can cure them.

By the aid of numbers, to be found in every work on astronomy,
they can easily ascertain, that if the whole planetary system, the
sun, planets and all their moons, should be changed into pure
water, alcohol or sugar of milk, and one grain of any substance
should be dissolved in this immense mass of fluid, or be minutely
triturated with its solids, every drop or grain of such a solution or
mixture, would be a fraction of the whole mass, equal only to one
divided by one with about fifty zeros, or by one with ten zeros less
than the homoeopathic thirtieth dilution, generally prescribed by
Samuel Hahnemann ; and yet he advises explicitly, that even less
should be given. As he prescribes one drop of the sixtieth dilution
of the juice of Thuya occidentalis, (see Materia Medica, 2d edition,
vol. v. p. 123) this dose is therefore still far smaller than one drop
of the planetary system would be, if homoeopathically medicated,
in the manner mentioned ! — We challenge all mankind to name
another instance in the sciences, arts, &,c, where a man has
asserted similar nonsense, and has not been considered fully entitled
to a place in the lunatic asylum ! — Never can, never will posterity
believe, that in the 19th century, which has scarcely passed its
first quarter, and may already boast of the greatest progress in
natural sciences, a Samuel Hahnemann has not only been respected
as an author, but has been entrusted with the life and health of
his fellow-men, and has been considered by many, who claim a
respectable standing in the profession, as " a reformer of practical
" medicine, as one of the greatest philosophers, medical geniusses,
" and benefactors of mankind !"

231

Let every one calmly and impartially reflect on the intensive and
extensive importance of the unparalleled absurdities of the homoe-
opathic doctrine, and not be surprised by the ruse de guerre which
its fanatic advocates generally use, in admitting its extravagant
and uncommon bearings ; let them not be deterred from a minute
scrutiny of this horrid disgrace of the human mind and of our age,
when they read such tirades as Dr. Hering employs in the intro-
duction to his Concise View, on page 3, to prepossess the mind of
the reader in favor of his all-curing new art of healing. " He to
" whom the Hahnemannean system of medicine is new, and who
" is at once brought to survey it as a whole, must be struck by its
" peculiarities. Indeed, it differs so extraordinarily from any to
" which he has hitherto been accustomed, that at the first glance
" he would be prone to regard it with distrust ; while at the same
" time, its colossal dimensions, the monstrous compass of its fun-
" damental principles wear a discouraging aspect," &c.

The principal topics which we have selected from Hahnemann's
works will prove not only, that his developed drug-virtues must be
considered by all men of common sense, either as nonentities and
chimeras, or as powers different from any in nature which we
hitherto know, and that Hahnemann is in nothing more correct than
in asserting, that he discovered a world of nev) powers, a glorified
state of substances, an immense multitude of miracles ! He ought
therefore not to have used the term pote?izised, since this expres-
sion would admit the idea, that these powers or virtues have been
latent before they were disenthralled. We repeat, his virtues de-
veloped from drugs must be considered absolutely as newly created;
created only by homoeopathic manipulations, since it is impossible
by any other physical or chemical process, which has been hitherto,
or ever will be known, to develope powers which can be in the least
compared with them. In addition to the reasons which we have
already alleged, we must therefore declare that no man was ever
more inconsistent than Hahnemann, when to support the validity
of his doctrine, he used in so many instances the statements of
others in respect to the treatment with allopathic doses of drugs,
and did not consider that his trials with drugs on healthy persons,
have been made with much larger doses than allopath ists have
ever prescribed ; while in natural diseases he uses also drugs pre-
pared in a manner never heard of before, and according to his own
assertion, so widely different from their crude state and prejudicial

232

character. Who, for instance, would refer to experiments with the
ore of any metal, to confirm the truth of other experiments made
with the pure metal, and yet the metallic contents of the ore which
are merely oxydated, sulphuretted, or otherwise chemically com-
bined with other minerals in the ore, do not require any miracu-
lous transmutation into a glorified state, or into a spirit to become
pure: could any one, for example, judge of the poisonous effect
of one grain of deutochloras hydrargyri or corrosive sublimate, from
the comparative mildness of the natural cinnabar, and still much
less from metallic mercury, which can be taken by pounds with-
out injury ? In both cases Hahnemann will admit that no homoe-
opathic virtues whatever were developed from these drugs, since
otherwise he could not have asserted, that his triturations and sha-
kings only can developc his infinite spirits, and much less, that to
obtain the true salutary glorified potenz, the 18th dilution was at
least required. According to the conceptions hitherto adopted in
scientific language, a potenzised power does not differ in its nature
from what it has been originally, but is only a higher degree of
the same, either extensively or intensively. On the contrary, if a
power is changed into another, it cannot be called potenzised but
altered. A piece of flint for instance, (an example improperly
used by Hahnemann, when explaining his developed drug-virtues,
since it is the steel and not the flint which becomes ignited by the
friction,) canont be considered as an igniting substance, before the
spark is drawn from it by friction and by the influence of the
oxygene of the atmosphere; — the flint (the steel) contains the
caloric in its bound state, but being bound by the specific capacity
of both bodies, it does not exist as free caloric or as fit for ignition ; it
might also be developed by any process and lo any extent, but with-
out a medium favorable for its ignition, it will never ignite, and
with the aid of this medium only, caloric is liberated, by friction, to
a degree promoting ignition, but it is not changed by this process
into another matter ; it is exactly the same agent which it was
before. Nobody will therefore think the caloric and the property
of any combustible substance of becoming ignited, to be new I;
created by the process mentioned, or to depend essentially on
the larger or smaller bulk of the substance; and much less,
that in conformity with the homceopathically developed virtues,
from a smaller piece of such a substance more caloric, and con-
sequently a larger spark could be developed than from a larger

233

one, or that the ratio between ignition and bulk must be considered
as inverse.

It is evident, that according to Hahnemann's assertions about
this subject, any quantity of a drug, from which no virtue is de-
veloped by his manipulations, must be considered as an inert sub-
stance, or at least so, in regard to the homoeopathic property which
it would possess when properly manipulated; — the substance, be it
ever so large, must be regarded as equally ineffective in respect to its
medical property, as mountains of a combustible substance are in
regard to their igniting property, until their specific capacity for
caloric, which they may contain in ever so large a quantity, is
diminished in a sufficient degree, and under circumstances favor-
able to ignition ; thus for instance, millions of pounds of gun-
powder may be safely stored in vaults of flint and iron.

The gross jargon quoted above, from page 14 of the Concise
View, and from Hahnemann's different writings, cannot free ho-
mceopathists from admitting implicitly, that their developed drug-
virtues, if they exist, are created by their manipulations, and im-
mensely differ from those qualities which the drugs possessed in
their crude state.* Though most of them would not object to

* Among the many examples drawn from common occurrences by homceopathists,
which we have proved to be delusive and false, we observe in Monsieur le Count
Docteur Des Guidi's letter the following, on page 19, " but though all these precedents
" should fail us at once" (he means those mentioned in our earlier note ; and similar
ones of minor importance) " would not the experiment of Spallanzani alone, upon the
" diffusibility of the spermatic fluid of the frog, compel us to see nothing incredible in
" the power of homoeopathic doses?" Here we see again a very nice specimen of the
grossest paralogism which these close-thinking men proffer, when they, for the de-
fence of their doctrine, allude, in the manner of their master, to common-place in-
stances. One drop of the spermatic fluid of a frog fructifies many thousand frog-
eggs : the 30th developed virtue of a drug is immensely less in bulk and weight than
the bulk and weight of a sick person to be cured by the drug ; ergo, its developed
virtue must be considered as a never-failing powerful remedy. — Should Monsieur le
Count Docteur Des Guidi, or his able translator, have ever fructified, by their deve
loped virtue, one frog-egg, we would believe that they can always fructify frog
eggs, and even all other kinds of eggs ; but nobody can conceive what similarity, and
much less what identity exists between a non-fructified frog-egg and a disease ? What
could not be proved by such singular syllogisms and such reasoning as is here adopt-
ed 1 The spermatic fluid of the frog is much more substantial than the aura sermnalis
in animals of a higher order; and as far as we can judge of these great mysteries of
organized life, the spermatic fluid, or the aura seminalis, kindles the latent nisus for-
mativus at one point, and this kindling spark, once developed, extends in those cases,
at the next moment likewise to the next point, where more organized matter is ready
for its fructification ; and so on, as long as such matter, the nisus formativus of which
is matured exists ; just as one spark will explode many million pounds of gunpowder in
a moment, without igniting every grain separately. Must therefore this little spark,
which, when extinguished in -time will do no injury, be considered as possessed of an
immensely or infinitely developed quantity of caloric? In the same manner we may,
mutatis mutandis, explain infection by an inconsiderable quantity of small or cow-
pox matter, which is likewise a favourite topic of homoeopathists to prepossess igno-
rant men for their fancifully small doses : it is however clear, that here also the vi-

30

234

medical witchcraft, we shall nevertheless try to prove this more
pi inly by the following apagogical demonstration, or deductio
ad absnrdum.

The homoeopathic drug-virtue can be either less or greater, or
equal to the power of a correspondent allopathic dose, which has
not been manipulated. — If both are equal, then the homoeopathic
treatment is on the same footing with the allopathic, with regard to
the dose ; that is, one decillionth part of a grain of a drug will
operate always in the same manner, whether developed or not ;
and the whole doctrine of developed virtues must be admitted as
nonsensical, or as a wilful deception. Hahnemann and his fol-

rus itself does not become distributed over the whole body, but only a diseased process
is kindled in a small point in the lungs by inhalation, or on the skin by absorption, etc.
and then spreads over all those parts naturally disposed for this morbid process; which
disposition however is generally for ever extinguished by the specific changes in the
reproductive system, as consequences of the morbid process itself. Without such a
participation of the whole system, manifested by a feverish reaction, neither small nor
cow-pox can therefore protect against another identical infection. The allusion of
homosopathists to the divisibility of the small-pox virus by the air, for the defence of
their doses, leads to the same paralogism just mentioned. Their argument is this,
that because one phenomenon, presenting a great effect on the human body, can only
be explained by a great divisibility of matter, therefore the different drug-virtues,
being developed from matter minutely divided, must also be infinitely effectual. Ab-
stracting from the validity of their statements, of which we shall soon speak, these
ratiocinations should rest on their own intrinsic correctness : but then they must con-
sistently prove by other incontrovertible experiments than those which are to be
proved by it, that the effects of their drugs are not lessened, but increased by their im-
mense division or developement, unlike those of other bodies, for instance, musk,
gold, etc., which, though exceedingly divisible, lose their effects, as all bodies do, in
direct proportion to their weight or mechanical division. Because a small fraction of
one substance has some effect, we have no right to conclude the same in regard to
another, without sufficient proof that the other operates iu the same manner ;
otherwise all substances being immensely divisible, must operate on the human body
alike ; and instead of using instances so far fetched, the homceopathists need only to
declare in favour of Bonnet's Theory of Generation per emboilement ; according to
which, all vegetables and animals which have existed and shall exist, were inclosed in
the first grain of seed, or the first drop of spermatic fluid ; which presents a more strik-
ing instance of a great divisibility than any similar one. The instance of small-pox
proves nothing in favour of the operations of infinite small homoeopathic doses, and the
inoculation of cow-pox is still less conclusive, as even the many thousandth part of a drop
cannot be considered a homoeopathic dose, as we have already stated, in many places.
Both instances of small-pox, as well as cow-pox, admit still less of any sound comparison
with homoeopathic drugs, because both do not operate absolutely and unconditionally :
for if this were the case, every individual would be subject to an infection in a small-pox
epidemic, and every vaccination must be successful : farther, in both, the develope-
ment, is performed without the aid of mechanical operation ; and also, the small-and
cow-pox protect against a return of the same disease, a property never as yet attri-
buted to the homoeopathic drug-virtues. Admitting, however, even that the homoeo-
pathic doses operate as certainly as the small-pox virus itself, still an essential dissi-
milarity exists between both of them, inasmuch as Hahnemann, adverse to all exter-
nal remedies, requires for his drugs, the aid of the stomach ; whereas, according to the
celebrated American physician Rush, (see Observations and Inquiries, V. n. 2.) small-
pox matter, like the most virulent other animal poisons, can be swallowed without in-
fection. The infection of small-pox by letters, as alluded to by Hahnemann, is very
doubtful ; though, in such cases, an allopathic dose of small-pox matter might have
adhered to the letter, and have remained dry, until being afterwards dissolved by a
warm damp air, it was inhaled by the person susceptible to it.

235

lowers would do any thing rather than admit that the medical ef-
fect of any dose of a drug, where the presumed virtue is deve-
loped, is less than a similar dose when undeveloped ; for by this,
the third maxim and its superstructure would fall to the ground,
and not a shadow of homceopathia would remain. It would be
then evident, that they insist, merely from caprice, upon their
atoms, which, thus divested from all virtues, spirits, miracles, etc.
would soon lose all confidence : should they, however, follow the
maxim, " similia similibus curantur," with large allopathic doses,
their treatment would soon prove to be the most murderous which
has ever existed.

The third category then only remains to be considered, viz. —
that when the virtue of a drug is developed by homoeopathic ma-
nipulation, a dose of it is immensely more powerful than a similar
dose of the same drug when undeveloped ; the remedial proper-
ties of both being identical, they differ only in degree ; this is the
case with gravitation, as, in a vacuum the feather falls to the ground
as quickly as a heavy weight; and with electricity, whether deve-
loped in a small piece of sealing wax or in a thunder-cloud. But it
is evident, that some quantity of the substance which has not been
developed, must be an equivalent and produce the same effect as
the 30th dilution of the developed drug ; for instance, a pound of
Peruvian bark must possess as much remedial virtue as the 30th
developed virtue of a grain of the same. In this case it is unneces-
sary to adopt infinite spirits, etc, and homceopathists, by admitting
this, would no longer oppose, but advocate allopathic doses ; since
they cannot deny that cases may exist, where the immense homoeo-
pathic virtues are too strong, and the much smaller virtues in an
allopathic dose would be better. Thus, for children, they would
perhaps prescribe one pound of Peruvian bark pro dosi, rather
than a grain of the 30th dilution. Their reproaches of the allo-
pathic prescriptions of large doses are then ridiculous, since, in
their eyes, the allopathic doses must consistently be exceedingly
small ; and by this it could also be best explained why homo^o-
pathists administer one dose only once in four or six weeks.*

* Patients under homoeopathic treatment are generally very much deceived, in be-
lieving that what is administered to them every day is medicine : they frequently take
a true homoeopathic dose of a drug only once in one, two, or even in six weeks. —
They can easily ascertain this by observing, that among ten, twenty, or more small
doses, which thev receive, one or two are marked to be taken on a certain day Faith-

230

The whole privilege which Hahnemann thought to secure for
his developed drug-virtues, as always acting .absolutely, uncondi-
tionally, &c, opposite to the vital powers, which always act
senseless, clumsy, &c. would fall to the ground, when he must
admit that the substances which nature offers to him, are without
his co-operation, though in proportionally larger doses, not less
salutary than with it.

Whereas, therefore, the medical properties of all simple drugs are,
according to homoeopathia, in no quantity, either equal to, or more,
or less than the corresponding doses of the same drugs with
their virtues homoeopathically developed, and whereas, also, as we
have seen, the developed drug-virtues are not to be compared with
any power in nature hitherto known ; it follows, that they are not
only to be considered as powers sui generis, but as supernatural
powers, they may be termed miracles, spirits, (fee. and the manipu-
lations themselves chiromancy, witchcraft, (fee.

Should it ever be proved that Hahnemann's mysterious mani-
pulations have only been a subterfuge to save his maxim, similia
similibus curantur, from its downfall, on account of the great injuries
of large doses when given in accordance with that maxim, and
that he believes the difference between the homoeopathic and allo-
pathic treatment, not to consist in the immensely increased power
of the drug, but only in the absolute smallness of the homoeopathic
doses, than he has wantonly exposed the Ires of many healthy
persons to the greatest danger, by experimenting on them with
immense doses of drugs, as he did for instance, with four ounces
of powdered bark, mixed with twenty ounces of alcohol ; — a quan-
tity which, when compared with the thirtieth dilution of one grain,
would be far more than sufficient to destro} r all living animals in

ful homreopathists are bound by their doctrine to act in this manner, and to give in
the intermediate hours, days, or weeks, only a small quantity of sugar of milk, which
they themselves consider as nothing. Hahnemann, probably from his great respect
for truth only, does not permit his followers to relieve the anxiety of their patients by
naming the disease distinctly, and advises them, as we have seen, to use only the
term, " a kind of such or such a complaint :" but nevertheless he directs his follow-
ers to deceive their patients, as he usually does, by giving, for many days or weeks,
doses of sugar of milk under the name of medicine ; though no practitioners had ever
less reason to deceive their patients, in order to operate favourably upon their minds,
than homoeopathists ; for when, as they assert, all nature cannot disturb the marvel-
lous operations of their drug-virtues during four or six weeks, what evil could be ap-
prehended from causing the patient a little anxiety by telling him the truth? When
speaking on this subject. (See Chr. Dis. vol. i. p. 216.) the old sinner adds, very
piously, "for this purpose I consider sugar of milk an invaluable gift of God." What
a contrast with the honourable Dr. Mead, who, thankful for the great remedial pro-
perties of Peruvian bark, termed this drug, " Magnum Dei donum."

23*7

on i whole planetary system by bark-fever or ague, if their na-
ture is similar to that of man. The only defence which Hah-
nemann could make, is the great difference between the healthy
and diseased state, by which he proved that much weaker medical
virtues are required to produce a drug-sickness in the former, than
to cure the latter. But if he will admit the exact proportion
between power and its end, wisely adapted to each other in nature,
and also that many recover without any aid from serious diseases,
for instance, from intermittent fever, it follows that in these cases the
ratio of the vital powers, which take the place of his immensely de-
veloped drug-virtues, to the natural disease, must be the same as
the ratio of these immensely developed virtues to the natural dis-
eases cured by them ; or also the same, as the ratio between the
immense developed virtue of a small homoeopathic dose, and the
undeveloped, though (in weight) much larger, allopathic dose. The
same reasoning will be applicable, mutatis mutandis, if he should as-
sert, that the medical properties decrease immensely by homoeopa-
thic developements ; the instances just quoted would then also be no
less inexplicable, especially if we should admit as true, his singular
conceptions about the impotence of the vital powers in the cure of
all diseases ; for, if the vital powers are reduced so immensely as
his drug-virtues then are, how could they do any thing, and much
less, how could they remove without any medical assistance any
serious disease, as they however do? — Hahnemann therefore
must admit, that two doses of any drug, equal in weight, are also
equal in their medical strength or virtue, whether they are or are
not homceopathically developed, or by this second deductio ad ab-
surdum it is also conclusively proved, that in his developed or
potenzised doses, for instance, of Peruvian bark, Belladonna, table
salt, &c., the original natural properties of these substances have
ceased to exist, and that they are replaced by other ones, newly
created by his homoeopathic manipulations ; and since nothing like
them exists in nature, he must term them, as he explicitly does,
miracles, a new creation, a glorified state of substances, spirits,
&c.

Ridiculous as all homoeopathia, but especially as the doctrine of
developed drug-virtues must appear to every impartial reader, when-
ever he has become closely acquainted with it, and trivial as it
may seem to many, whether the public are in favor of one or the
other method of medical treatment ; it must be extremely impor-

238

tant to every lover of truth in general, if he reflects on the serious
consequences which may arise from such a horrid superstition. To
day, Hahnemannism may be considered merely as a medical doc-
trine, to which as many, or even less, may fall victims than to any
other medical doctrine or mode of treatment ; to-morrow, it may
easily affect the welfare and happiness of mankind in one way or
another, though not directly by its professional features. The his-
tory of man proves sadly, that credulity and superstition have been
comparatively of almost greater and more lasting injury to the wel-
fare and happiness of society, than truth has been of benefit. Con-
sidering the extended intercourse of the medical profession with the
people, we assert that, besides the immediate injury of health and
life, no medium exists, by which the spreading of obnoxious super-
stitions can be more promoted, and all the blessings of truth be
more counteracted and annihilated, than by a medical doctrine
which demands implicit belief in miracles ; especially when they
are seemingly supported by false or delusive statements.

It is very curious, that in our enlightened age these evident
consequences of the homoeopathic doctrine should have been un-
noticed so long ; though this Abracadabra is far more guilty of the
named obnoxious influences, than its innocent predecessor was
in ages long past. Let people, disposed to credulity and super-
stition from want of education, or a propensity to the extraordinary
and marvellous, believe that a privileged class of men, or they
themselves, can develope immense powers by certain manipulations
or any other processes so easily performed, from an atom of flint,
table salt, arsenic, or any other substance ; let these powers be said
to belong to a new discovered world of potenzised, glorified and
miraculous powers or spirits ; let it be believed that these powers
operate more absolutely and unconditionally than any power known
to us in nature ; let it further be believed that through the actions
of these artificially developed powers, men can generate an im-
mense number of bodily and mental disorders, from a small wart
or pimple up to abortion, hernia, apoplexy, &c, from the slightest
sensations of grief and affliction to suicide and murder ; let us
admit the truth of all these mad and abominable assertions, plainly
expressed by Hahnemann, and publicly admitted by his followers
as the highest wisdom and truth ; and we shall soon witness again
the horrid consequences of implicit faith in all kinds of miracles
and witchery, which for so many centuries resisted and frustrated

239

the blessings of an enlightening religion and philosophy, and
which rendered the human race so miserable.

For those who might think us unjust or sophistical, notwith-
standing all our quotations and remarks, we feel obliged to quote
only one other assertion from Hahnemann, which alone would be
fully sufficient for our defence. Speaking, in the introduction to
the sixth volume of his Materia Medica, of the powers developed
from metallic gold by triturating and diluting it twelve times with
sugar of milk, he asserts : " that one quadiillionth part of a grain,"
(that is, a fraction of a grain, equal to one divided by one with
twenty-four zeros), " is so powerful, that a person suffering by rae-
" lancholy, despising life, and inclined, from insupportable anguish,
" to commit suicide, has merely to smell a few minutes of a vial
" containing one grain of the just mentioned solution, and this
" wretched being will, in one hour, be delivered from his evil spirit,"
(demon) " and the full love of life and cheerful temper will again
" be awakened in him." Will homoeopathists, will these fanatics
deny, that they implicitly believe in witchcraft, when they believe
such ravings as trustworthy facts ; or, if they do not believe them,
will they deny that they premeditatedly impose upon the public, by
recommending this " new art of healing," as the only safe one
which rests on " incontrovertible truth," and by proclaiming its
author as one of the greatest medical geniuses and benefactors of
mankind.

" Once more Democritus arise on earth,

" With cheerful wisdom and instructive mirth,

" See motley life in modern trappings dress'd,

" And feed with varied fools th' eternal jest." — Johnson.

We must therefore direct the particular attention of all men,
anxious to promote truth, and to check the progress of credulity
and superstition, in whatever shape they may appear, and under
whatever pretext they may be palmed upon the public, to watch
minutely the farther progress of the homoeopathic doctrine, and to
enlighten those who are duped and deceived by it, if it should last
longer than may bejustly expected and hoped. Thistaskwill be much
easier for them if they attend to the following last topic of our discus-
sion about the third maxim of homoeopathia, and examine with
us, whether Hahnemann is in this maxim of his doctrine also as
inconsistent with his own statements and suggestions, as we have
endeavoured to prove him to be with regard to the other two.

\Vc will therefore show, admitting the truth of Hahnemann's

240

experiments, statements and assertions, as premises of his conclu-
sions, that the latter cannot be correct, since his own statements
and suggestions contradict each other, and that we must, there-
fore, still more consider his doctrine as the highest potenzised non
sense, or as premeditated falsehood.

To say nothing of Hahnemann's impositions upon the public,
as proved in the preceding pages, every impartial reader will
doubt the veracity of a man who, calls the physicians of all ages
murderers, and who, while attributing their cure of one patient in
several hundreds only to chance, because they neglected the maxim,
similia similibus curantur, and also the virtues developed from
drugs, totally disregarded both himself, during most of his practice,
and used larger doses of medicines than most allopathists prescribe ;
and this too without any clear indications.

In the same year that Hahnemann first published his ideas about
homoeopathia in Hit/eland's Journal of Practical Medicine, and
nine years before he issued his work, Fragmenta de Viribus Medica-
mentorum Positivis, Lipsise, &c. 1S05, he empirically used the most
powerful drugs, and in much larger doses than were ever recom-
mended by any author on materia medica or therapeutics. This
will be proved by his public statement of his treatment of Kloken-
bring, an insane man, for whom he prescribed twenty-five grams
of tartar emetic, to be taken at once, (see Deutsche Monatschrift,
February, 1796.) The year after his first suggestions of homoeo-
pathia, (see Huf eland's periodical just mentioned, Vol. III. 1797,
p. 138,) he published a case of colic, cured by him, in which he
had administered within a short time, according to his own state-
ment, Tartar emetic, Gamboge, Scammony, radix Filicis maris,
{one ounce daily for four days in succession), Charcoal, Semina
Cynm, Colocynthis, Castor oil, Tin, Iron, Semina Sabadillce,
Sulphur, Petroleum, Camphor, Asafostida, Epsom salt, Ipeca-
cuanha, Opium, Oil of Cajeput, and, in addition, the Arcana of
Nuffer and Clossius for the tape-worm, which contain the
strongest drastics, and other powerful drugs in the largest
doses : and after he found himself mistaken about the presumed
tape-worm, he prescribed powders, each of which contained four
grains of Veratrum album. — Still later, he mentions in the same
periodical, (see Vol. V. p. 40, s. 99), cases of influenza, for which
he had prescribed, to adult persons, the enormous quantity of forty
grains of camphor to be taken within twenty-four hours, and

241

fifteen grains of the same, daily, for fourteen days, by a boy
twelve years old. At that time he administered Ledum palustre,
one of his great homoBopathic remedies, in doses of six or seven
grains ! though afterwards, (see Mat. Med. Vol. IV. p. 176), it was
proved by him to be so extremely powerful that he was obliged to
givcitonly in the quintillionth dilution! and so too with other drugs;
powdered Peruvian bark, for instance, which he says at that time
he prescribed by drachms. One of two cases must be true ; either
Hahnemann then knew, as his fanatic followers assert, by long
experience, the salutary effect of his method generally, and parti-
cularly the beneficial effect of his small doses ; and then he is,
according to his own verdict, guilty of repeatedly attempting or
committing murders, because he was conscious of his detrimental
treatment, and yet used it to such a shocking excess ; or he thought
no more of homoeopath ia at that time, than he would of a vague
idea suggested by him to the profession, and then he is guilty of
the greatest falsehood in stating his new infallible method to be the
result of many years thought, and of frequent experience at the bed-
side of patients. This, however, could not be the case, even if we
allow him eight years, from 1797 to 1805, because he was, as we
have stated, almost during that whole period, a wandering phy-
sician, and not engaged in any permanent practice, and the largest
practice of eight years, is certainly too short a time to form an es-
timate in regard to any, and much less to such a medical method
of treatment.

As an additional specimen of the arithmetical exactitude ob-
served by homoeopath ists, it may be slated that they asserted al-
ready, many years ago, that Hahnemann had pursued his practice,
in accordance with his doctrine, for upwards of 40 years, and the
same is now stated publicly by the homceopathists of this country ;
thus we have read in the German Gazette of Philadelphia, that
Hahnemann has practised homoeopathia for upwards of 43 years.
Of course, according to homoeopathic arithmetic, 1805 deducted
from 1833, leaves 43!

When Hahnemann first began to recommend homoeopathia,
many of his prescriptions remained intelligible and within the
limits of possibility : one grain of good extinct of belladonna dis-
solved in one, two, or three ounces of water, and given, according
to his first direction, in doses of a few drops, could at least be ima-
gined effectual, and have certainly proved so in a few extraordinary

31

242

cases. The same may be ascertained, with respect to many other
drugs, by any judicious physician, who does not estimate the powers
of drugs by grocer's weight, by ounces and pounds; especially to nar-
cotics, which Hahnemann recommended formerly in similar doses.
But what confidence can be placed in Hahnemann's statements, if,
for instance, he publishes in the year 1815, that he had often de-
rived immediate and permanent benefit from one unmixed drop
of Bryonia juice ; a few years after he asserts, that he seldom
meets with a case, in which one drop of the decillionth solution, or

— part of one drop of the same drug, could be used without in-
jury, and that no case exists in which the undiluted juice would be
advisable ; and twelve years later he states, that the patient must
smell only of a sugar-pellet of the size of a hemp or poppy seed,
moistened with the decillionth solution of the same ! (see Kopp.
1. c. p. 69.) In his Materia Medica, (Reine Arzneymittellehre,
Vol. V. p. 122, 1827), he remarks, in regard to charcoal : that no
stronger developed virtue, (Potenzierung) of charcoal is required
for homoeopathic use than the millionth ; three years after, (1830,
in the last volume of his Chronic Diseases, page 3,) he says, of
the same substance : " I have used for a long time ( ! ) the sixtil-
lionth dilution," — (there is, truly no little difference between one,
and one sixtillionth part of one) ; — " until I have lately found the
" decillionth dilution the best with which to moisten one or two
" small sugar-pellets, which answers all deeiied purposes ;" —
that is again, even admitting the fluid required to moisten such a
sugar-pellet, made of starch and sugar, equal to a full fraction of
one grain, a trifling difference between one with twenty-four zeros,
and one. — We would advert here again, not only to the remarkable
fact that, by asserting the power or virtue to become developed at
the eighteenth dilution, he has retracted all his former assertions in
regard to all dilutions of a lower degree, though he has before re-
peatedly recommended them as infallible, but also, that he first
prescribed charcoal in an immensely stronger dose in powder, and
afterwards many million times weaker as a fluid, which implies,
that he foolishly considers charcoal not only as soluble in alcohol
or water, but more soluble than most soluble salts, though it is
notoriously one of the most insoluble substances in existence. In his
Mat. Med. Vol. I. p. 445, the dose of the liquid extract of aconitum
is fixed by him at the octillionth dilution, and in Vol. VI. of the

243

Same work, p. 199, in a note, he restricts thin dose again for ihc
same purpose to smelling once of a sugar-pellet of the usual size
and moistened only with the thirtieth dilution of the same drug :
and again, in another place of the same work, (Vol. V. p. 123) he
speaks of the vigesillionth dilution, that is ; one grain's weight
divided by 10 120 .*

* Hahnemann's numerous suggestions about the increased power of all natural
substances, and especially of all drugs, when properly shaken or rubbed down with
unmedicinal substances, are in themselves acontradiction, because, if from all natural
substances a virtue or power becomes developed, sugar of milk, alcohol or acetic acid,
cannot be considered as inactive, or as mere menstrua, since, by the same process
to which the drug is subjected, the virtue of the substance, improperly termed by him
unmedicinal, will also be developed, particularly as it is known that these substances
are not simple or elementary, and, as he himself believes, that all substances are, more
or less, compound. Moreover, we must remember his explicit suggestion, (see Chron.
Dis. Vol. I. p. 209) that it will not be wrong if still smaller doses are chosen, since
" it is impossible to give them too small" — also quite a novelty in regard to the hu-
man intellect as well as to all experience, as no one can well imagine a power which
can never decrease too much, for counteracting, with equal strength, every degree of
resistance. Notwithstanding, Hahnemann says, page 213 of the same volume, " who-
" ever whTnot imitate it exactly so, ( ! ) will leave unsolved this greatest problem of
" the art ; he will leave the most important long lasting diseases as uncured, as they
" were before my doctrine appeared. If it is not done punctually ( ! ) nobody can
" boast of having followed my advice and expect any effect !" Afler some of his dis-
ciples had publicly confessed that they were frequently unsuccessful in curing diseases,
since it was impossible to cure the disease by homoeopathic doses, though the
drugs were selected according to the prescriptions of homneopathia, (see, for in-
stance, according to Dr. Kopp, i. c. Dr. Hartmann, in Archiv. of Horn. Heilk.
Vol. VIII. No. 2, p. 36), the medical pope emitted a warning bull from his capitol at
Crcthon, enjoining his faithful followers " not to disgrace themselves by mixing any
" allopathic treatment whatever, but to execute the divine homoeopathic art pure and
" sincere." (See according to Kopp. 1. c. Archiv. f. b. II. Vol. IX. No. 3, 1830— We
are told by trustworthy men, that if patients apply to him after they have followed
the advice of some of his disciples without relief, Hahnemann, with the greatest in-
delicacy attributes their failures directly to their ignorance and carelessness. Pa-
tients not relieved by his own treatment, seldom return to him on account of the ex-
cessive fees which they are obliged to pay, in advance, to bis door-keeper before they
are even admitted; one louis d'or is the least. If the patients submit, and continue to
complain about the failure of his medicines, for which they are also obliged to pay very
high prices, he ascribes it to medicinal influence, to which they must have absolutely been
exposed, or to a neglect on their part, &c. until they become tired and apply to allo-
pathists. Hahnemann's common-place explanations to his infatuated patients, are said
to be sometimes exceedingly ridiculous. We find many specimens of that kind in bis
works. Thus, in proving the validity of his maxim, similia similibus curantur, by bums
cured with alcohol or spirits of turpentine, which he likewise inconsistently places at
once among his homccopathic doses ; he applies it to politics, saying, (see Mat. Med.
Vol. II. 2nded. pp. 18 and 19), " and thus we find the great truth confirmed by many
" daily occurrences, that nature" (now so beneficial !) " intends to deliver mankind from
" its wearisome evils by very similar short ones. Nations, sunk for centuries in gro-
" veiling apathy and base slavery, elevate their minds, become sensible to their hu-
" man dignity, and again free, after being trodden by the tyrant of the west into dust."
We cannot explain this sentence of the " great genius," which is probably considered
by his followers as the resumee of the greatest philosophical sagacity and Sterne-lik<
wit — otherwise, than that he thinks, if a people is long trodden into dust, an immense
virtue becomes developed, in the same manner as if a grain of Dint was rubbed down
with sugar of milk in his mortar. It seems singular, however, that this great politi-
cian considers an army of 300,000 well armed and disciplined men, vvil.li some I

dreds of cannon, coming from the west, a homoeopathic remedy, to excite, bya salutary
countei-and-after-operation, a quick, safe and durable cure. — Deplorable and h
spirited Poland, why didst thou not elect Samuel Hahnemann thy general en chei !—

244

In respect to the " unheard of niceties," of homoeopath ia, we
must observe, that never since the healing art has existed, have all
drugs been considered to be equal in strength. The greatest
quack has thought proper to give different doses of different drugs,
as some may be administered by drachms or ounces, and others
only bv grains, or even small portions of a grain. Much less would a
well educated physician consider it a trifle to prescribe opium, bella-
donna, strychnine, &c. as he would Epsom-salts, rhubarb, althea,
&c. without minute regard to the small fractions of a grain. If be ;

for instance, prescribed — th part of a grain of strychnine, or th
1 24 48

part of a grain of the arseniate of potassa, the ratio of one grain to
these fractions is respectively, in the first instance, as twenty-four
to one, and in the latter, as forty-eight to one. He will also con-
siderately pay due regard to the age, the sex, the constitution, &c.
of the patient, and will increase or diminish the dose accordingly.
We may suppose that, whenever a judicious physician should wish
to administer a dose of such drugs to an infant, he will reduce
it to the one hundredth part of a grain, where, of course,
the ratio is as one hundred to one. But Hahnemann assigns no
reason why the virtues of his drugs begin to be developed only
at the eighteenth dilution, and continue so until the thirtieth,
without a proper scale of progression, or without any regard to the
particular circumstances just alluded to; he formerly allowed his
followers to choose, ad libitum, between the eighteenth and thirtieth
dilution, that is, between a dose of one with sixty, and one with
thirty-six zeros, since this is just as correct, according to the ele-
ments of allopathic arithmetic, as that the ratio between one-
fourth and one-twelfth, is as twelve to four, or as three to one. If
by the development of the drugs the virtues decrease, then the
ratios can be made inverse, and the ratio of the dose formerly re-
commended by Hahnemann, is, to the dose prescribed afterwards
by him, as one with thirty-six zeros is to one with sixty. To
say nothing of our earlier demonstration, that, in the very sense of
this doctrine, the homoeopathic doses must not be considered as
very small, but as immensely large, it is evident, that as all magni-
tudes are merely relative and not absolute, and depend therefore
on their ratio to other magnitudes ; in the case before us, the im-
mense difference of the number one with sixtv zeros, and one with

245

only thirty-six zeros, or the absolute number of one with twentj
four zeros, is a mere trifle in the eyes of the same men, who
assert, that their opposers pay no regard to minutiae.

Hahnemann suggests no caution in regard to sex, age, &c. ; he
also is, and ever will be, unable to give a minute scale of the differ-
ent degrees of his dilutions or developed powers, even in round sums
of millions, billions, &c. and much less in their intermediate quan-
tities, which must naturally exist, if the least regard be paid to such
important conditions. Supposing the power to be developed only
at the eighteenth dilution ; if it increases, it does not increase from
its first outset by jerks, but, as all powers in nature do, by a gra-
dual and uninterruptedly continued progression; there must,
therefore exist, relatively, an immense number of developed virtues
between the eighteenth and nineteenth, between this and the
twentieth dilution, and so forth, which Hahnemann would have
recommended for the circumstances named, if he could give his
doctrine any consistency. The total disregard of these interme-
diate doses, and still more the transition from the administration of
one drop of any dilution, to the mere smell of a pellet moistened with
the same dilution, where evidently the quantity of the developed
virtue applied becomes incommensurable, prove the vagueness of
all things connected with this doctrine.

No reasonable cause or experiment can be assigned, which can
explain why the same process, eighteen times repeated, developes
no perceptible power, but if the same process be continued, the power
becomes immensely developed in the compound ratio of the dilutions
by hundreds of drops and by the shakings made; nor why in this
respect all substances are alike, however different they may other-
wise be, as, for instance, arsenic and table salt ; nor also why the
doses of these medicines are not affected by the differences of sex>
age, &.c; is it not impossible to imagine, how any product of two
factors can remayi always the same, when one of them is con-
siderably changed, or both are altered disproportionately ! — Even if
Hahnemann had never explicitly claimed, that the operations of
his developed drug-virtues were always absolute, unconditional, and
the same under all circumstances, in opposition to the changeable
miserable vital powers, these assertions would, merely from this
extraordinary disregard of all circumstances, considered by all men
so important, follow as a matter of course. In Vol. II., page 15, of
his Chronic Diseases, Hahnemann * prescribes 200 sugar-pellets to

246

be prepared by a confectioner, from one grain of starch and eugai ,
in Vol. IV. page 338 of (he same work, 300 from one grain ; in
his Organon, 3d edition, he orders 100 sugar-pellets to be moisten-
ed with one drop of the developed solution ; in the fourth edition of
the same work, §283, he prescribes 300 sugar-pellets, to be moist-
ened with the same ; — here the ratio varies from one to two and
three. In the same manner he advises that two or three sugar-
pellets of the same weight and equally moistened should be given,
if one should not appear sufficient; as if his developed virtues were
like the common orders of physicians, who prescribe one or two
table-spoonfuls of a medicine, or from one to three pills, &c. not
aware that his advice at once reduces the immense ratio which
exists between the 18th and 30th developement of his atoms, or
between one and one with 24 zeros, to the ratio between one and
two or three !

In his Organon, §278, page 194, he says, " so powerful is the
"development of the innate virtues of drugs, not thought of before
" my time, that in later years I have been forced, by convincing
" experiments, to reduce the ten shakes, formerly prescribed to
a be made after each dilution, to two." — Here we would, ask and
with reason: what part does the shaking take in the homoeopathic
development of drug-virtues? Why must the dilutions be repeated
separately so many times, if the shakings arc so important, and
why cannot the number of dilutions be less, and be replaced by a
proportionately greater number of shakings; so that the firstdilution,
made by twenty or forty shakings at once, with or without a pro-
portionate quantity of a noivmedicinal substance, should be exactly
equal to the ten or twenty dilutions each, made with two shakings
only ? How can the same drugs, which Hahnemann considers to be
so different in their action on the living human body, that they
make many different drug-symptoms; how, we say, can these drugs-
be considered so physically alike, that the virtues of arsenic and
nux vomica, of flint and table salt, &c, are all developed equally and
tothesamedcgrec,(potcnz)by the same number of shakings, though
again, a few shakings more or less are considered so immensely
important? If there be such a great difference between the present
and former number of pellets made from one grain, and betwe< n
the shakings formerly prescribed by Hahnemann and those he has
lately resolved upon ; how many patients of Hahnemann and his
followers then have been sent to theii long homes, by a treatment

247

formerly proclaimed infallible, with the same bold and impudent
charlatanism, as the improved mode is now recommended ! How-
ever partial any one may be to this doctrine, infatuated homoeopa-
thists excepted who reject even mathematical certainty, nobody
can consider these different and grossly contradictory statements of
Hahnemann, other than as the most absurd falsehoods.— Those
who implicitly believe in miracles and witchery, who divest them-
selves of all dignity and of the noblest prerogatives of intelligent
beings, by worshipping such a fool or impostor as Samuel Hahne-
mann, those solely will admit, that a power developed from a
substance might operate with great violence, if taken in the many
thousand billionth part of a grain only in excess, but that neverthe-
less the degree or potenz of a power twice or three times stronger,
developed from the same substance, by the same process, might be
given under the same circumstances without injury, nay ! with the
greatest and most durable benefit, in allowing the use of two instead
of one sugar pellet. Reader, when such men as Dr. Hering
tells you, (see Concise View, page 11,) "But Hahnemann was as
"little confounded as was Fulton. For it is indicative of great
" minds undauntedly to persecute a noble design, in defiance of the
" whole world ; the great idea becomes as it were an element of
" their souls ;" forget for a while that one of your countrymen
has lent his pen to translate such stuff, and take a slate and pencil
to compare these our statements, faithfully extracted and translated
from Hahnemann's works, with any thing in the world, and you
will easily find that they are much more nonsensical, than if a lunatic
should assert, that all the gunpowder which has ever existed and
now exists, is insufficient to blast a large rock, but that this may be
done very easily by a power developed in this singular manner from
one grain of it, whilst the power developed by exactly the same
process from two or three grains, or a much larger quantity of the
same gunpowder, would make but little difference, and would not
move an ounce of any additional resistance or weight from its place!
If you can comprehend this, then you may, when sick, confidently
smell of a sugar-pellet moistened with the thirtieth developed virtue
of Hint or table salt; then you may sip with delight the homffipathic
chocolate. Who would not again exclaim with us — "Helleboro
" opus est !" — but in large allopathic doses. — " Multa cernunt arus-
" pices; multa augures provident; multa oraculisdcclarantur; multa
" vaticinationibus ; multa somnis ; multa portentis." — Cicero.

248

In accordance with reason and experience we may therefore
assert, that the homoeopathic doses and the developed drug-virtues
are absolute nonentities. Hence we cannot wonder, that not only the
statements of Hahnemann's opposers, who have either themselves
tried homoeopathic prescriptions, or have seen them tried by ho-
moeopathists, but also those of honest homceopathists, who were
cautious not to deceive themselves and the public by withholding
the truth, in secretly using allopathic medicines and doses,* vary
very much from the presumed infallibility of this method. Besides
the many instances which we have already stated, and the frequent
retractions and changes of Hahnemann himself, which we have
quoted from his works, Dr. Gross, one of Hahnemann's disci-
ples, and one of the first and most distinguished champions of ho-
mceopathia in Germany, complains very much, (Arch. f. h. Heilk.
vol. viii. no. 3. p. 9. according to Dr. Kopp, 1. c.) that the long
time required for homoeopathic cures, may be considered as a great
inconvenience. The same periodical, devoted solely to the exten-
sion of homoeopathia in Germany, contains many statements where
homoeopathic physicians have been compelled to recur to allopa-
thic treatment.

To say nothing more of the humbugs and falsehoods pub-
lished by bare-faced homoeopathists, though notoriously contra-
dicted by their own brethren, diseases like intermittent fevers, ge-
nerally so easily and safely cured by the physicians of any good
school, are confessedly treated on the homoeopathic method without
success, by Drs. Gross, Rummel, and Hauptmann, all of whom are
distinguished homoeopathic practitioners and authors; though these
diseases, and their similarity with the symptoms of the drug-dis-
ease produced by Peruvian bark in healthy persons, must be con-
sidered as the very matrix of all the monstrous and abortive pro-
ductions of Hahnemann and his doctrine. .The same is stated
publicly by other homoeopathists, in regard to pulmonary con-
sumption ; though Hahnemann considers it so easity, quickly,
and safely curable by the potenzised virtue developed from tin.
In a manner very unusual for him, though he could not well evade

* The Berlin Medical Gazette for 1832, and other German medical periodicals,
contain many such instances; and in some cases also physicians, who pledged thin
faith to their patients strictly to follow the proscriptions of the new healing art, either
proved l>v their recipes, or have avowed to us, that they commonly use allopathic
doses. The inconvenience of combining allopathic practice with homcepathic prin-
ciples hasalready been stated, as leading to the rudest empiricism

249

it when introducing his " great truth" about the itch, he states
candidly, (Archiv. f. h. H. vol. viii. no. 3. p. 97, according to
Kopp, 1. c.) that in inveterate chronic diseases the treatment may
last, on an average, from one to two years, before the cure may be
expected. Soon after he confesses again, in his last work, (Chron.
Diseas. 1828, vol. i. p. 5 and 6. that the homoeopathic mode of
treatment pursued by him hitherto, (that is, from 1805 until 1828)
in conformity with the " law of nature !" has failed in all chronic
diseases of any importance , (to whom is a disease not important ?)
syphilis excepted, though this mode had been used long and with
the greatest exactitude, and though the patients themselves had
also faithfully observed the minutest prescriptions, strict diet, etc.
only the commencement of the treatment proved satisfactory, but the
progress to recovery less so, until at last all hopes of recovery dis-
appeared." And he continues in precisely the following words :
" The frequent relapses made at last the best selected homoeopa-
" thic remedies and the most appropriate doses the more useless,
" the more they were repeated : they at last scarcely afforded any
" relief whatever." — All these statements he made a few years
after his declaration, so often repeated by himself and by all his
adherents and admirers, (for instance, Mat. Med. 2d edit. 1824,
vol. ii. p. 26. when he was already eight years in full labour with
his " great truth;" and in his Organon, §§ 19, 65, and 156, ac-
cording to Kopp, 1. c. p. 287.) that " nobody will be cured from
" his disease by any other but the homoeopathic method, in an easy,
" quick, and safe manner."

We must remark, that these confessions of Hahnemann and of
his most devoted disciples were made when he, as we have seen,
insisted upon the observance of strict dietetic rules, by which alone
many of their patients have recovered. As Hahnemann, in the
last edition of his doctrine, remits to his patients a large part of
his former dietetical prescriptions, we may expect from him, in
future, much less favourable reports, in regard to the frequency
of his safe, quick, and durable cures, provided he lives long
enough in " his youthful vigour," to benefit the world with another
" great truth," by which he will be forced again'to repeal and re-
tract some more of his infallible precepts and statements. — Minute
dietetical directions have been formerly the only and truly bene-
ficial part of the homoeopathic practice, and must have cured many

32

250

who had long suffered from a rude treatment, which, disregarding
the great influence of many habitual and congenial agents, consi-
dered, next to the lancet, large bottles and boxes of medicine its
only resource 5 rational medicine, however, has never regarded
strict diet as consisting solely in starvation, as Dr. Hering (C. V.
p. 26) states : but in a proper selection and quantity offood, drink,
exercise, etc. ; a few obstinate chronic diseases of the reproductive
system excepted, where starvation must be recognised as the great-
est remedy.

Hahnemann being, as it appears from vol. i. p. 189 of his Chr„
Dis. much annoyed by the reproaches of his opposers, who attri-
buted the recovery of some of his patients solely to his strict diet-
ing system ; and many patients having become tired of abstaining
for years from their usual pleasures and comforts, he has resolved
to insist no longer upon these measures, which he formerly thought
so indispensable. Dr. Kopp, (1. c. p. 157) states, that most of
his homceopathically treated patients objected to the severe diet-
etic prescriptions, though he could not dispense with ihem, being
the most essential part of the homoeopathic treatment. The strict
diet must have been, moreover, too redolent of rational medicine
for Hahnemann, and particularly unimportant to him, who was un-
willing to share with any thing the merits of his discoveries and the
unconditional salutary operations of his developed drug-virtues.
— Reflecting patients, treated by homoeopathists, and knowing
that they received only one atom of a drug every four or six weeks,
which was considered fully sufficient not only to combat a long
and serious disease, but also to counteract all external influences
of nature, of the mind, and the many other vicissitudes of life, must
also have thought it strange, that the restrictions from their usual
innocent habits, nourishment, etc. provided these were not parti-
cularly noticed as remedial substances, should be so necessary in
support of the operations of atoms, said to be omnipotent ; they
must also have known the many facts acknowledged by rational
physicians, that serious diseases sometimes disappeared and were
radically cured by a proper diet, without any medical assistance.
Hahnemann, whose confidence began to decrease since he pub-
lished his work on Chr. Dis. and his false prophecies about the
Asiatic cholera, was therefore anxious to give a new impulse to
his doctrine, by making his treatment more palatable to his pa-

251

tients : hence he and his faithful adherents now released their
patients from the inconveniences of a strict diet ; the remedial
agents excepted, particularly when these are required to play their
part as scape-goats.

Hahnemann's constant exertions to discredit and reject all expe-
rience hitherto valued by the medical profession generally, though
he himself adhered to the rudest allopathia for the greatest part
of his professional life, are very remarkable, and may offer to the
impartial observer additional proofs, that his object is not love of
truth and humanity, but only petty egotism. What otherwise
could have made him, as we have seen, so opposed to the use of all
external remedies ; not only of bleeding, leeching, cupping, but
also of blistering, injections, remedial baths, ointments, cata-
plasms, etc. and even of the most important and indispensable sur-
gical operations ; as for instance, the aid of surgery for hernia
inguinalis, fistula ani, etc. etc. The admission of these remedies
would evidently not have curtailed the merits of his doctrine, and
would have been more worthy of a reformer of the healing art,
who is termed, by his missionary in the new world, " the first phy-
" sician who recognised it as indispensable in every disease, to
" regard man as a whole."

Hahnemann's course appears still more absurd, if we read in
§9 287, 288, 289, and 290 of his Organon, (4th edit.) among si-
milar correct remarks : — " Each part of our body, if possessed of
" the power of feeling, can receive the influence of medicines and
" communicate their powers to all the other parts;" and " even
" those parts which have lost their proper sense, for instance,
" the tongue and palate, which have lost their taste, the nose which
" has lost its smell, impart the power of medicines not less com-
" pletely to all the other organs of the body. Even the external
" surface of the skin is not insensible to the reception of remedies,
" especially of liquid ones," etc.*

"The rogue and fool by fits are fair and wise." Singular enough! that here likewise
this extraordinary man is so adverse to truth and common sense, that he cannot con-
ceal his anxious desire immediately to retract and to annihilate any truth which may
involuntarily have slipped from his pen, for he states on the same page, that the
resorption of mercury from frictions with mercurial ointment is very doubtful. — Is that
doubtful which has been daily confirmed for centuries, by innumerable instances!
how does mercury enter the system of nurses, who have merely attended patients sa-
livated by mercurial inunction? Such cases are known to many, and have occurred
und r our own observation. Is this metal, which so many times is distinctly foi
the large masses of saliva, ejected by salivation from mercurial inunction, and vvlucii,
as trustworthy observers report, is even found in the blood and the bones of such pa-
tients, perhaps in Hahnemann's eyes, merely a fiction of the "overrefined" chemists?

252

We always considered the use of external remedies, even before
the endermic method was known, as so highly important, that in
genera] we would rather renounce all internal than all external
remedies. Many diseases of the reproductive, and especially of
the lymphatic system, when the functions of the digestive organs
are disturbed, and cannot bear medicine, as calomel for instance,
without difficulty, or with still greater injury, are only to be
cured by the external use of mercurial ointment, or similar medi-
cated baths. Hopeless cases of scarlet fever, the most dangerous
affections of the brain after external violence, in typhus fever, in
hydrocephalus, etc. are cured by cold infusions, and by applying
coverings of pounded ice to the head ; not to mention the indis-
pensable use of bleeding, leeches, injections, blisters, etc. — Since
the endermic method has been adopted by the profession, the va-
lue of the external application of medicines is recognised still more
and promises the greatest results. If we consider that by this mode
the functions of the stomach, digestion, etc. which it is so import-
ant to preserve in most diseases, are no longer disturbed by medi-
cines, and that these are reciprocally not so much changed in their
chemical properties and effects, by the action and influence of the
digestive organs and all the different mightily decomposing diges-
tive juices ; we may justly expect from this method much greater
and also materially different results in the operation of drugs upon
the human body ; for the skin, as an excretory and assimilative
organ, is, next to the lungs, the most important to the human eco-
nomy ; and being so extensive and so rich in lymphatic vessels,
nerves, etc. it receives, more than almost any other part of the
body, the greatest variety of immediate impressions from abroad.
We should think that these considerations would have been much
more important to Hahnemann and to his adherents, than, com-
paratively, to other professional men. if the former were really
anxious for the improvement of the profession, as they would open
to them a new and interesting mode of testing the correctness of
the homoeopathic maxim, similia similibus curantur, by using en-
dermically simple drugs for experiments on healthy persons. But
no ! our new prophet Samuel is worse than Mahomet, since the lat-
ter has, at least, acknowledged other prophets); whereas the former
regards every thing not conceived by his morbid fancy and not
hatched by his miserable charlatanism, as false and worthless. —

253

Thus he ridicules and despises also the use of the most powerful
and salutary drugs, for which the profession is so highly indebted
to modern chemistry, such as quinine, morphine, strychnine, etc.
saying explicitly, on § 269 of his Organon, 5th edit, that " to use
" them is foolish, unless it is intended to destroy quickly the lives
" of men and animals."

Instead of directing his attention to the homoeopathic use of the
large stock of valuable drugs, which the profession already pos-
sesses, he has attended particularly, either to substances hitherto
considered by all chemists and physicians as destitute of remedial
properties, such as flint, sepia, etc. or to those useful only for domes-
tic purposes, as table salt, or also to those deservedly considered as
obsolete, such as Drosera rotundifolia, Thuya occidentalis, &c. —
This singularity becomes still more evident, when we compare, in
his Mat. Med. and Chr. Dis., his trials with drugs, considered by the
physicians of all ages as the most powerful and efficacious, with
those newly introduced and picked out by him, from ancient and
obscure authors on Materia Medica. Thus he mentions only sixty
symptoms of drug-sickness produced by Rhubarb, seventy by Digi-
talis, one hundred and seventy-five by Camphor, one hundred and
thirty by Iodine, seventy-five by Stramonium, four hundred and
thirty by Arsenic, &c. but from his particular drugs, as Silicia, five
hundred and sixty-five, Lycopodium eight hundred and ninety,
Charcoal nine hundred and thirty, Table Salt eight hundred and
ninety-five, Sepia one thousand two hundred and forty, and from
his old pet and scape-goat, Belladonna, one thousand four hundred
and forty. — Had he really intended to promote medical knowledge
and truth for the benefit of his fellow-men, and not merely for his
miserable vanity and vile interest, he would have attended to the
drugs in general use, and suggested a better mode of employing
them, to prevent many mistakes, so murderous in his eyes ; this
course would have afforded him and his followers a field of inves-
tigation, much more ample and honorable than that of hunting
after new drugs, which will never be wanted, or which are em-
ployed so seldom, that they. are not even mentioned in most phar-
macopoeias ; as, for instance, Acetate of Manganese.

But Hahnemann and his followers cry, facts ! facts ! and Dr.
Hering also exclaims, with his usual pathos, on the last page of
his panegyric, " The Americans demand facts, and on these we
" can confidently and securely rest for our support." With this
implicit reliance upon facts only, it must appear very strange that

254

the same author has reserved for his never-failing new healing art,
in the cunning manner of his party, some very large allowances
in regard to some individual cases, which may prove unfavorable
to his homoeopathic treatment, remarking that " the new healing
u art is not to be judged by its success in isolated cases only, but
" according to its success in general, its innate truth and the incon-
fil trovertible nature of its fundamental principles." It appears,
indeed, very singular, that the same man, who denounces in the
most wanton and assuming spirit and language of his master and
brethren, all theoretical reasoning in medicine, and even rejects as
•" learned lumber," all medical theories suggested previously to his
new professional creed, speaks, in the same breath, of innate truth
and the incontrovertible nature of its fundamental principles ! Any
one who reads this and similar expressions, interspersed at random
for the edification of those, who either do not understand, or do not
confine their attention when reading such a pamphlet, would really
think that homoeopathia rests more on the principles and dictates of
the human understanding than any other conjectural doctrine what-
ever, nay ! on the certainty of mathematical calculation itself, and
that henceforth, if men die before the age of eighty, unless killed
by accidental violence, it will be only because they did not apply
in time to a faithful homoeopathist, or because this one has made
some gross error in consulting his drug-and-disease-symptoms-dic-
tionaries.

Having attempted to examine wherein the innate truth and in-
controvertible nature of Hahnemannism consists, we would humbly
ask the author of the Concise View and his brethren, if the public
is told not to rely on isolated cases with regard to their new heal-
ing art, but only on its success in general ; in what manner this
success in general could be incontrovertibly ascertained or substan-
tiated, when they decline to stand the test of isolated cases ? —
It may justly be expected, that men who, with their implicit faith
in their master's dictates, believe with him, that before homoeo-
pathia existed, among hundreds of patients, only one vms cured
by his good fortune; that men who worship tenets, opposed to
all the laws of the human understanding and of nature, as
oracles ; who deny all facts acknowledged for upwards of 2000
years, although they are confirmed by every physician of only a
moderate practice, &c, should feel particularly obliged to prove
their general success. If homceopathists object to many reason-
able customs and usages, and substitute for them " unheard of

255

" niceties, 1 ' they will nevertheless hardly succeed in changing th£
old custom, that in equity the accused party cannot be their own
judges, and that the veracity of assertions is not to be decided
merely by those interested in them, but by judges, witnesses and
umpires, who shall weigh conscientiously all the facts and circum-
stances of the case.

In our humble exertions to vindicate our native and to benefit
our adopted country, we feel particularly entitled to ask for the
valid testimonies of a general success of the homoeopathic treat-
ment, as we have sufficiently proved that the statements of its
success in Europe, made in this country, are incorrect ; and that
their authors, if not intentionally, certainly from party spirit and
from want of sufficient information, substitute for truth their im-
plicit faith and their extravagant fancies and hopes. It would be
exceedingly difficult for homceopathists to prove the general success
of their method, even if many of the largest hospitals had been
attended exclusively by homceopathists for at least twenty-five
years past ; but to our knowledge, there exists not the smallest
public hospital in the whole world, which is partly and much less
exclusively confided to a homoeopathist.* Many distinguished

* Since the above lines were written, we have seen a prospectus for publishing, by
subscription, the library of homoeopathia, signed by Dr. Hering and J. G. Wesselhoeft
of Philadelphia, and a supplement of these proposals by Dr. Ch. F. Matlack of the same
city. It was to be expected that the author of the Concise View, which had at that time
already been published in Philadelphia, for about nine months, without being duly
noticed by the profession, would persuade himself that his pamphlet enjoys general
approbation from the American public, and would persevere in his usual manner to say
summarily, that his new art of healing continues rapidly to spread over the whole ol
Europe, and particularly of Germany; without referring to any other authority than to
the few obscure men of his party. But we could not have expected that the Ameri-
can champion of homoeopathia, not satisfied with the aid he has offered to the admired
doctrine by his translation of the Concise View into his native language, should
follow the same course in communicating statements to his countrymen, which he can
only know from hearsay, and which he is unable to support by any reference to credit-
able public documents. It is true that a small homceopathic hospital has recently been
establishedat Leipzig ; but as far as we know, not at the expense of any public autho-
rity, as Dr. Matlack appears to believe. About 2000 dollars had been collected from
his friends and disciples, for its erection, in the year 1829, at the celebration of the
50th anniversary of Hahnemann's graduation. Up to the end of March, 1832, there
had been received 34 patients in all, of whom 20 had been cured, 1 died, and 13
remained under treatment, according to the statements of the hospital physicians,
publishedjn the Jahrbuecher der homceopathischen Heil-und Lehr-Anstalt zu Leipzig,
No. 1. That it is a private hospital is also evident by Dr. Matlack's own statement,
that it is supported by the voluntary contributions from patients restored to health by
the new art. Whoever knows the condition of Germany, and especially of Leipzig
and its neighborhood, in regard to public benevolent institutions, will not believe that
patients, who had to pay heavy fees for treatment, would after their recovery contri-
bute to a private institution, which the poor do not want on account of the excellent and
large public hospitals provided for them. Would Dr. Matlack, when joining perhaps
with some of his colleagues in establishing a private hospital for about a dozen pa-
tients yearly, think that it will offer to the public satisfactory evidence of the general

256

medical authors, and among others Dr. Stieglitz, in his late work
quoted above, have remarked, that it never has been minutely
ascertained by unquestionable facts, what medical system, school,
or method of treatment, has proved to be the most successful in
curing diseases; still of course, every general mode of medical treat-
ment, whether based on a distinct theory or not, from Hippocrates,
Galen and Paracelsus, down to Brown, Broussais and Hahnemann,
claims to be more successful than all others. Though we have
proved by their own statements, that in many diseases homoeopa-
thists are less successful than other practitioners ; although, in self-
puffing, some of them excel even their illustrious master ; still, if we
would allow them to be relatively more successful than others,
they could not satisfactorily substantiate the same by facts, until
the procentages of recoveries by all the other methods are exactly
ascertained; and as this has hitherto been impossible, or neglected,
of course all the preferences claimed for homceopathia, as well as
for any other method of medical treatment, must remain vague
and undetermined. — -A few voices from the tombs would soon settle
all these professional controversies; but as they will forever remain
dumb, there is no other mode of determining this important point,

success of homceopathia'? Still more void of all truth is his statement, that the medical
staffofthe Prussian army is partly composed of a numerous body of homoeopathic phy-
sicians. It may be, that some few individuals of this corps, which stands high in the
profession, secretly adhere to this medical superstition, but we can positively assert,
and challenge the author and all his homcnopathic brethren to prove the contrary, that
in all the lectures and examinations in the Prussian universities, as well as in its
military medical schools, not the slightest regard is paid to homceopathia. All the
distinguished professors, chief surgeons and physicians in Prussia, publicly ridicule
homceopathia, whenever they have opportunity to do so, as might be expected from
men so well educated. This may be proved not only indirectly, by Dr. Hering's exceed-
ingly ridiculous lamento, in his Concise View, that "the kings and princes of Europe
"impede this new art by processes, penalties and even bayonets," but also by the
Berlin Medical Gazette, Horn's Archiv. and other German periodicals, ft is likewise
an error, that the King of Prussia has ordered that homceopathia should be freely
practised in the alms-house at Berlin; because, to our knowledge, no such explicit
direction has ever been published, and the large hospital, !a Charite, but not the alms-
house at Berlin, is still the place where poor patients are treated ; the public reports
of the former however, contain not the least account of homceopathia. The latest
regulations of the Austrian government again forbid homceopathia to be practised in the
army, after the trials publicly instituted at Vienna proved abortive, as we have stated
above. — We hope the publication of the complete library of Hahnemann's works may
succeed. Nothing would more contribute, if they are faithfully translated, to do
justice to our statements and remarks respecting this new art of healing, its author
and his followers, and to open the eyes of the profession as well as of the enlightened
people of this country to this subject ; though, in our opinion, there are very few, if
any, medical works, from which the medical student, the practitioner or any one might
not extract ten times as much good information as from all Hahnemann's works
together, the useful warning excepted, which they richly offer, showing how far men,
who claim the confidence of the public to their professional talents and care, are led
astray from all common sense, in neglecting and despising the safe ground of human
intellect and experience.

257

except to try for at least twenty-five years all diverse methods of
medical treatment, particularly those emphatically recommended
by the framers of new medical systems, in the same manner as
homoeopathia was tried for a short time in a military hospital, by-
order of the Russian government. The governments of populous
countries ought also to demand yearly from each physician, a
minute report of his treatment in each case, with a detailed state-
ment of its result ; they also ought to inquire minutely by
what mode, and by what physicians, those have been treated
who died, without any previous violence,* under seventy years of
age. Should such a course be enforced, and faithfully pursued for
about fifty successive years, and its results be published fre
quently, with the strictest impartiality, after being canvassed
and reviewed by distinguished medical colleges, then, but only
then, could we conclude with some degree of probability, which
method was relatively the best, or rather which has proved to
be the least detrimental.! Single facts have been and will ever
be considered by the mass of the people as the strongest arguments
in regard to professional acquirements, as well as to arcana or quack
medicines. The economy of the living human body, its multifarious
natural dispositions, the great variety and number of changes in

* To the weekly reports of deaths in every large city or county, containing the
different names of diseases, should he added, if not the names of the attending physi-
cians, (which might perhaps cause a very beneficial competition ;) at least, the method
of treatment in short scientific terms; thus for instance, scarlet-fever or belladonna-
sickness treated by a homreopathist, gastro-enteritis by a Broussaisist, &c.

t We say explicitly, "with some degree of probability," under the impression that,
if medicine is not void of all certainty, the best method of treatment must finally be-
come evident by the improvement in the healthy condition of those persons, who punc-
tually follow the advice of their physician in regard to the prevention of diseases, and
also by the relative majority of quick and durable cures, especially if the medical prac-
tice is founded on rational physiological and pathogenetical principles. With the
latter restriction, individual cases cannot offer any argument in respect to the acquire-
ments and talents of a physician. The greatest quack may cure patients, and the
most learned and talented physician may lose some ; — non est in medico semper re-
levetur utajger. — Many methods of medical treatment, however, the leading principles
of which are less rational, frequently prove, by the natural talent of the physician,
provided he is well educated, more beneficial than more rational principles without
the natural talent of the physician; homceopalhia excepted, which is, as we have
endeavoured conclusively to prove, nothing but the utmost methodus expectativa, or
the pure self-treatment of nature in diseases. It is not the system, method or school,
which forms the good physician, but his general good education, his zealous love
for truth, his philanthropical devotedness to his vocation, and particularly his natural
talent, by which he will know best how to manage and to improve every method or
system, or rather by which he will best understand how to use or to reject them al-
together; a mode which, in the healing art likewise, cannot be taught, but depends
on an innate disposition, which embraces many peculiarities — Galen says therefore,
very correctly, " multa sunt in praxi, quae nee dici nee sciibi possunt ;" and t i< <■
expression, " medicus nascitur" is no less correct than the old proverb, " pom*
** nascitur : '

33

258

its conditions, the still greater multiplicity of all external influences
upon body and mind, (he immense multitude of various combina-
tions of all those single influences, &c. will naturally produce an
immense variety of cases, all of which differ, more or less materially;
and if the most active physician should live thousands of years,
each hour might present to him new cases, in which he could not
honestly predict, with certainty, the beneficial or detrimental result
of a certain treatment, or of a definite drug.

Hence every enlightened physician will candidly confess, that
the results of his exertions are uncertain, and excepting the absolute
action of a poison, there is no treatment, no substance or drug, which
will certainly cure a patient, or which, if constantly applied for a
length of time to many, suffering by similar or widely different dis-
eases, would not allow them to recover, (post hoc;) nay! would not in
some cases even promote a radical cure, by what we must term in
consequence of our confined means for minute investigation, chance,
(propter hoc). This accounts for the long continuance of so many
prejudices and errors with professional and unprofessional men, and
for the singular fact, that people, be they ever so much en-
lightened and cautious against impositions, when not guarded
against such injuries by the wise laws of a good medical police,
continue to pay high for all kinds of quack medicines. We may
justly suppose that, unless the latter proved beneficial in some cases,
people would certainly not continue to use them, notwithstanding
the tricks of the venders. Forced to resort in many cases to quack-
medicines, in consequence of the bad state of practical medicine,
and of the charlatanism of many ignorant doctors, the people are
well aware that the medicine recommended for cases, frequently
so palpably different, is like a chance in a lottery, in which blind
accident only throws out "to a few individuals the prize, but to a
" thousand the blanks," (see C. V. p.2S); do they not however often
purchase blanks of physicians at much higher prices ?

It is too important not to repeat it here again : can a reflecting
public consistently confide in a treatment called methodical, if the
same remedies are prescribed in the same order from beginning to
end, in cases and under circumstances widely different ; if they
see their doctors depend upon certain empirical rules for all cases,
or follow the prescription of their text-books more anxiously, and
without regard to individual circumstances, than an intelligent
tradesman would follow the rules of his trade ? Must it not be evi-

259

dent to all judicious men, thai they run much les-; risk of being
sacrificed, or of suffering their strength and constitution to be broken,
when they leave nature to herself or take an innocent quack medi-
cine, than when they are, by an orthodox medical doctrine, or by a
rude empiricism, first reduced to the utmost by bleeding, leeching,
cupping, blistering, vomiting, purging, (fee, and afterwards, when
almost unable to digest the mildest food, are pampered with quinine,
bark, opium, (fee, or perhaps subjected to hazardous experiments
with strong doses of such drugs, as prussic acid, iodine, strychnine,
(fee. Who can prove to them positively which system or method
of medical treatment offers the least number of blanks in propor-
tion to the prizes ? Will, or can veracious homceopathists candidly
secure to them prizes only? How can this be, if they themselves
refer not to individual cases, but to general success, which they are,
and will ever be unable to prove? Does the author of the Concise
View really think, that his repeated assurances, for instance on
page 25, " injury cannot, indeed result from a false selection ; for
" it is soon to be discovered, and is free from all dangerous conse-
" quences to the patient," or when speaking of homoeopathic doses,
on page 28, " When no relief whatever is possible, they do no in-
" jury," (fee, will or can make a favorable impression on any per-
son of sound judgment? If he and his brethren discard all nega-
tive injury, or the natural consequences arising from neglect, the
common sense of others will nevertheless consider it as highly im-
portant. No vender of a quack-medicine would assert, if he under-
stands his business, that it never injures but, is always beneficial, be-
cause, in doing so, he might expect that idiots only would purchase
his stuff, since most people would judiciously conclude, that what
can never do harm can also do no good. Such outrageous puffs
will be ineffectual with Americans, and may be told more success-
fully to the inhabitants "of Egypt, the land of monsters, and of tbf
" sanguinary gold-coast. 5 '' — " The American people demand facts,"
but certainly very different ones from those which honfteopathia
can offer, especially when its high-gifted adepts renounce the test
of individual cases, and advert to the investigation of " its innate
' truth, and the incontrovertible nature of its fundamental prin-
" ciples." We have not the good fortune to be a native of this out
adopted country, but we think " the Concise View" to be any thing
but courteous to this free and happy nation, since all its features
appear more calculated to infatuate an uncivilized and superstitious

260

people, than to make a dignified impression upon the countiymeil
Of a Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, and so many others, whose
brilliant talents and characters reflect the greatest honour on
their country. If the Americans should be contented with mere
facts, without investigating whether these facts are only accidental,
without any relation to, or dependence upon, some existing cause,
(statements sensu Jatiori) ; or without relying upon causes, as the
necessary conditions of definite facts, (species facti, or facts sensu
strictiori), they would be as credulous and superstitious as all un-
civilized people are ; they would have remained satisfied with
those objects only which nature has granted them, and would
continue to be tributary for what the skill and talents of other
people offer them. But as they have long since emerged from
this state of infancy, and have attained the vigour of manhood,
they are not contented with naked facts only, but are anxious
closely to examine the different causes from which the true one
is to be selected ; desirous to ascertain the real connexion between
causes and effects, they prefer rational investigation to a rude
senseless empiricism, in order to become, as far as possible, disen-
thralled from the chances of accident, and to derive, from the
same cause, all other effects which its nature admits. In consequence
of this rational course adopted by the Americans, . they have de-
vised a plan for atmospheric electricity to pass down their dwell-
ings without injury ; they have shortened the intercourse between
distant places to a degree which would have appeared to our an-
cestors as a vision, and advance daily in a manner almost unpa-
ralleled in the numerous branches of industry and commerce.
We confidently trust, therefore, that, some doctors excepted, not
one American will henceforth be duped by homceopathia, after be-
coming more intimately acquainted with the bearings of its max-
ims, and the superstitious features of its practice. People, deficient
in common sense and education, or otherwise disposed by their
morbid fancy, to credulity and superstition, may be dazzled by
emphatic references to facts, and may, when gazing at the ascent
of a balloon or a feather, consider it as a fact contrary to the
laws of gravity ! fools may be imposed upon with the painted dial
of a hollow plaything, when told that it will be as useful as the
best timepiece, because it is a fact, that both coincide together 732
times in one year, at the minute and second ; — a ratio which is
rnuch greater than many rude medical treatments or the use of

261

quack-medicines will prove to be in proportion to their failures I
lunatics only will believe, if a mosquito lights on a rock, weighing
millions of pounds, and this rock falls to the ground, that the mos-
quito caused its fall!— Reader, you scorn or smileattheseextravagant
comparisons ! take a slate and a pencil, and the most simple
arithmetical calculation will prove even the latter of these instances
to be a million times more entitled to probability, and, therefore,
also, to the term fact, than that the thirtieth homoeopathic dilution
of Hint, table-salt, arsenic, &c. or that even the 1500th dilution of
sulphur would affect in the least any mortal being upon our
planet !

With reference to these remarks about the reliance upon " ge
" neral success," we do not for a moment doubt that many patients
will recover after a faithful homoeopathic treatment, and that, at
the next anniversary meeting of the respected homoeopathic so-
ciety at Philadelphia, the duly verified reports of many marvellous
cures performed by homoeopathists, will have arrived from all quar-
ters of this country likewise, and even of cases where persons have
been rescued from the very verge of the grave by this new art of
healing.* We confidently expect, that, in general, more patients
will be permitted to recover by this mode, than by many other
methods of medical treatment hitherto pursued by some doctors.
Many patients will be negatively saved by it, whose constitutions
are strong enough to combat the disease itself, but not the addi-
tional consequences of a medical ill-treatment, generally ten times
worse than the disease.! The negative beneficial results of the
homoeopathic treatment will be still greater in countries, where

* Our anticipations expressed at the beginning of this year have not been realized.
The first anniversary of this "beneficent society" passed over, at least without any
literary eclat, strong enough to extend beyond the walls of the meeting-place of the
homiEopathic propaganda there. We eagerly expect the second anniversary, when
the whole number of all the miraculous homoeopathic cures in the new world will be
reported to the public.

t Every honest physician will candidly confess, that in many cases, nature left to
herself, restablishes even patients, considered as hopeless by them, and that often when
he followed one of his colleagues in attendance, and credit was given to him for the
cure, it belonged much more to the well directed measures of his predecessor than
to him, who only quietly awaited the effect of medicines given before. As a very
striking instance of the advantages of the methodus expectativa, we remember a phy-
sician of immense professional learning, but who had not the judgment indispensably
required to manage the extraordinary means afforded to him by his diligent researches,
which were most favorably seconded by an almost unparalleled memory. In conse-
quence of his incapacity to select from the stock of his knowledge the means proper
for the individual case, he at last prescribed in all cases, almost nothing else but some
gruel of salep-root, arrow-root, &c, acidulated with phosphoric, or some other acid,
and only differently colored by some other innocent ingredients. He however cured
many patients, and enjoyed great confidence in his extensive practice ; especially be-
cause he, though very restricted in his judgment, was considered to be an extraor •

262

human life is every moment at stake, from the bad state of phar
macy, and the legal irresponsibility of the apothecaries, by which
the best prescriptions of the well educated and judicious physicians
are frustrated, and even frequently rendered highly detrimental.
In this respect we are zealous advocates of homoeopathia. Our
remarks about homceopathic doses show that, whatever may be
the bearings of its other maxims, it is utterly foolish to think,
that all the homoeopathists who have existed, now exist and may
exist, even if the world should be blessed with them for many cen-
turies to come, could do the least injury to any man, provided they
follow strictly the tenets and prescriptions of the third maxim of
their doctrine. The eighteenth, and still less the thirtieth dilu-
tion of any known drug, simple or compound, selected homuiopathi-
cally, enantiopathically, allopathically, or empirically, be it Arsenic,
Strychnine, Bohon upas,<fcc, or a mixture of these strongest poisons,
would probably injure no living creature on our globe, from the
Mastodon, if it still should exist, down to the smallest microscopic
infusory worm or insect, unless the latter might, perchance, be
drowned in the drop of liquid dilution, as in so much water or milk.
Hanging the term HOMCEOPATHIA, written in the same form
as the charm ABRACADABRA,* round the neck or elsewhere, will

dinary wise man, by his ability to use exactly the printed sentences and words of the
many works which he constantly read ; and because also he judiciously avoided all
controversies about abstract subjects. This and other similar men, remind us of the
late distinguished member of Congress, John Randolph of Roanoke, who on once
hearing one of his friends say of a man, justly celebrated as the greatest polyhistor
of this country, " there goes the American encyclopedia;" replied, "ay! but it has
lost its index." — Such men are as necessary in the sciences, as laborers are for the ar-
chitect, they facilitate much the endeavors of truly talented men to promote the dif-
ferent branches of sciences to which they have devoted themselves — as physicians
they mostly injure, likewise only negatively, or by neglect. They deserve all, when
departed from this world, the known witty epitaph, " Hie jacet vir summcc memoriae,
judicium expectans."

* The history of medicine (see Curt Sprengel's and Hecker's works mentioned
above) ascribes the origin of this charm to Basilides, a heretic, who communicated
it to Serenus Samonicus, father and son, who lived in the third century, under the
emperors Geta and Alexander Severus. One of the two Samonici wrote a book in
verses, containing medical precepts, under the title, " Dc Medicina parvo pretio
" farabiliy He expresses his prescription for the use of the Abracadabra, in the fol-
lowing hexameters ;

"Inscribes charta; quod dicitur Alracad
"Ssepius et supter repetes, sed detrahe summam,
" Et magis atque magis desint clcmenta figuris.
" Singula qua: semper rapies et cetera tiges,
"Donee in angustum redigatur littera conum ;
" 1 [is lino m sis i ollun

olio,
"Lei imo bos

This superstition was intimately connected with a belief in the curative and protec-
tive properties of certain precious stones or gems, called abraxas or ahasaxas-stones s
in iEons, Daemons, and in magic formula; or figures, (termed by Plato, tfvrjfjwxna'fioi)
which were considered as protective against all kinds of diseases, dangers, &c.

263

prove* just as useful in curing all diseases, safely, <juickly and du-
rably, as was that superstitious formula, which was, however,
merely thought salutary in intermittent fever, and a few other com-
plaints. And indeed if any government should resolve to expel
all physicians, as we are erroneously told by some uncourteous
authors the Roman government once did, all faithful homox>pathists
may justly claim to be exempt from such a barbarous ordinance.
If therefore, these pages have no merit in any other respect, we
deserve at least full credit from the homooopathists for having
proved, as we flatter ourselves, with artless but strict conclusiveness,
that as active jriiysicians, the// are the -most harmless men
in the world. — But if common sense proves that, as medicine has
existed for centuries and still exists, it is based on truths, which
have stood and will stand the tests of reason and experience, in
spite of all the encroachments of credulous superstition and cun-
ning quackery, then it will also be evident that many cases require
the assistance of those great means, which merciful Providence
reveals to man, whenever nature herself is either not powerful
enough to remove the disease, or is inclined to injure or to destroy
the patient.

The positive injury ascribed to allopathic medicines by Hahne-
mann and his followers, and the avowed harmlessness of their
mode, may prove the true value of the former in comparison with
the indifference or nullity of the latter ; since it must be evident to
every impartial man, that any thing in physical nature, which can
injure, may, if properly applied, be highly beneficial, and vice versa.
Hence, according to their own verdict, we may justly charge ho
mceopathists with the very grave sins of omission, as we have tried
to acquit them of all acts of positive commission. We must either
deny the occurrence of many cases where the life of a patient is
exposed in a few hours, or even moments, to the greatest danger,
from which he may be easily rescued by proper aid; or every body
who believes that we must wait for the effect of medicine for weeks
and months, must also admit that such a mode will frequently
produce great and irreparable injury from omission. What, for
instance, would a red-hot homceopathist say in his defence, if in a
severe case of haemoptysis, the patient expires by suffocation in less
than an hour, and he has neglected to prescribe the proper reme-
dies recommended by the profession ; and instead of large bleed-

264

ings, epispastics, injections, &C, all neglected by him as external
remedies, and instead of the beneficial use of dry table salt by tea-
spoonfuls, which he considers an allopathic remedy, and also as
"a crude article, possessed of a prejudicial character," (see Concise
View, page L4 5 ) &c, he has administered the thirtieth dilution of
an antipsoric remedy, and intended to repeat this dose after four or
six weeks, when the counler-and-after-operation of the first dose
has ceased? How can he justify his conduct, if instead of protect-
ing a man from the danger of a strangulated hernia inguinalis, by
a good truss and other judicious prescriptions, he recommends him
to smell every four or six weeks of a sugar-pellet, moistened with
the thirtieth developed virtue of another antipsoric; while the patient
dies miserably by his implicit confidence in such horrid madness ?
What can lie proffer for his excuse, if in a severe contusion of the
skull, the patient expires, because the homceopathist has neglected
proper aid, and instead of the most effectual and indispensable
internal and external remedies, such as large abstractions, cathar-
tics, &c. cold fomentations and even trepanning, he has only
administered now and then an atom of Arnica ? And thus in
hundreds of cases, the homceopathist, with all his contempt of
" learned lumber," with all his " unheard of niceties," with all his
emphatic proclamations of " no error is possible," " injury can
" indeed not result from a false selection," &c, will be the negative
cause of fatal cases, or of the long sufferings of a broken constitu-
tion, perhaps never again to be restored. We have witnessed some
of these shocking cases, where men in the piime of life deplored
too late their deception and folly.*

* We have recently seen an extensive report of many trials with the homoeopathic
method in different diseases of horses and dogs, made at the veterinary school and
hospital of Berlin, in presence of many students, and with the utmost exactitude;
oven homoeopathists assisted at these experiments, and the drugs were prepared by them.
According to this report, contained in the Berlin Medical Gazette, 1834, No. 14, these
trials were instituted on account of the brilliant statements of many homceo-and-iso-
pathic cures of horses and dogs, lately published by Dr. Lux, (English, Lvnx,) veterinary
surgeon at Leipzig, in the first volume of his work, " Isopatik der Contagien, &c.
" or Zooiasis," "oder die Heiluug der Thiere nach den Gesetzen der Natur,
(English, the cure of animals according to the laws of nature.)" Though the cases
were selected at Berlin, similar to those of Dr. Lux, not one of them was cured ; not
one confirmed the correctness of his statements even in the slightest degree.

We have also read the report of the celebrated Dr. Andral, respecting many experi
ments with the- homoeopathic method, publicly instituted by him, with the greatest
exactitude, at the hospital " la Pilic" at Paris. They likewise proved quite abortive,
(see Bulletin General Therapeutique, May, 1834, and United States Medical and
Surgical Journal, No. V., December, 1834.)

The homoeopathists will probably say, that Dr. Andral has not talent enough to

265

We invite the attention of our indulgent reader, finally, to the
following extract. Samuel Hahnemann, whose sensible remarks
we are as anxious to quote, as we are his ravings, says also very
judiciously, on pages 11 and 12 of Vol. II. of his Materia Medica,
2d edit., that if the symptoms of a disease have disappeared
after the use of certain drugs, or the patient has recovered after
them, it does not follow that they have caused it to disappear ;
and farther, contradicting in like manner his own assertion
so many times repeated in his works, he says, on pages 14 and
1 5 of Vol. III. of the same work — " Is it not very foolish to ascribe
" the consequences to one power, while powers of another cha-
" racter were co-operating, which often principally, though jointly,
11 aided in producing the effect ?" If we refer minutely to these
suggestions, which, if impartially applied to the results of all the
tenets and prescriptions of homceopathia hitherto known, would
deprive them altogether of their value, being at least much too
premature ; and if we combine them with the bold assertions of
Hahnemann, frequently cited, that among some hundreds of pa-
tients, hitherto and now treated on the allopathic mode, only one
has sometimes recovered by mere chance ; we may ask every
impartial umpire, what entitles him voluntarily to select from the
records of medicine some scattered cases in support of his doc-
trine ? and farther, what reason has he to preclude from his mode
likewise the chances asserted to prevail in all other modes ?

Hahnemann, in ascribing to himself the discovery of the homoe-
opathic action of simple drugs on the human body, and in assert-
ing that none but his prescriptions admit positively a radical and
safe cure, has of course precluded all other physicians before him
from his discovery, and from all belonging to it. Abstracting,

ascertain the " laiv of nature" and the " great truth" as well as they and their brother
homceopathist, the sugar-refiner so quickly made a doctor, and that the distinguished
professors at the celebrated veterinary institute at Berlin, had also not the proper
" lynx-eyes," to distinguish the symptoms in diseases of horses and dogs, since they
only understand also, when animals, " exactly and expressly define the seat of every
" symptom, &c. all the circumstances under which any complaint arises or disappears,
"increases or diminishes, &c, emotions of the mind or mental expressions, &c;
" sensations of falling asleep, during sleep and on awakening; even the dreams and
"the kind of them," &c. (See Concise View, pages 21 and 22.) — If every physician
in the world should forget his sacred duty, and on exposing his patients to the dangers
of such foolish experiments should find them incorrect, nay' if even Galileo, whom
they graciously admit as one of the few competitors of their great genius, (see Concise
View, page lfi,) should rise from his grave, and fully explain to them the nonsensp of
their law of nature, &c. they would reply — "and yet it is true." — 'The negro can b?
allopathically white-washed, more easily than they can be cured of their folly.

34

266

therefore, from the many other objections which we have inferred
against the quotations of homoeopathic cures, as made before him
by men who were unconscious of his fundamental " law of nature,"
similia similibus curantur : how could he quote those instances in
his behalf, as he cannot name one single case among all those
quoted, in which the supposed homceopathically acting drug has
been used after his mode, and in which all the restrictions and con-
ditions, asserted by him to be indispensable, have been observed?
Considering, therefore, that the salutary issue of the homoeopa-
thic mode is likewise not quite precluded from mere chance, of
which we may be convinced by the fact, that many also have re-
covered from external and internal diseases, who were so fortunate
as to possess neither an allopathic nor a homoeopathic doctor ; —
and admitting that, among some hundred patients treated by al-
lopathists, one only escaped by chance; it is obvious that the num-
ber of patients who have so escaped during many centuries, when
compared with the number of patients treated by all homceopa-
thists during the period of their existence as practitioners, which
is less than twenty years, even admitting that they have not lost
one patient, would show it by far more probable that the homoeo-
pathic cures were made by mere chance, than the allopathic ones.
If therefore Hahnemann and his followers should still admit, that
allopathisls cure only one among some hundred patients, they
will all have to practise at least for about a century longer, with-
out ever losing one patient, before they can free their cures from
the equitable reciprocal reproach of mere chance, and before
they can justly appeal to the general result of their miraculous
and infallible medical treatment ! How much less can homceo-
pathists free their fortunate results from the reproach of being
caused by mere chance, if they avow, as we have seen, that their
mode of treatment frequently fails, and a few excepted, none
among them would be impudent enough to assert, that he has
never lost one patient, but by external violence or from old age.
Our study of homceopathia has made us so familiar with large
numbers, that we will try, from motives of curiosity, to elucidate this
assertion likewise by some arithmetical calculations, whereby we
will grant to the results of the homceopathists the most liberal, and
to those of all other physicians the most unfavourable proportions.

267

The population of Europe amounts to 189 millions; say of
Europe and America together, 200 millions. Suppose, on an
average, that there is one physician for every ten thousand peo-
ple, there would be twenty thousand physicians. There are un-
questionably more in America alone, if we consider the large
number of those graduated annually, and that New York, with a
population of 240,000 inhabitants, has more than 400 physicians.
Now admit that every physician cures, only by chance, one pa-
tient among 200, he requires 2000 patients yearly to cure only
ten a year: in one century, therefore, the 20,000 physicians will,
at this rate, have cured 20 millions ; and in less than half the
time that the healing art has existed, or in ten centuries, 200
millions. If there are 1000 homoeopathists, (there are certainly
not so many, and not 100 who follow faithfully this doctrine) who
at the same rate permit all their patients to recover, that is, 2000
each, their number will amount, in ten years, to 20 millions; and
they could not, in less time than a century, begin to prove their
mode of treatment not to depend upon the same chance which
they ascribe to other modes. But it is generally considered a
very unfortunate medical practice, if in one hundred patients
ten die. The incurable Asiatic cholera even destroyed only 33J
per cent, at the highest average;* — 2000 patients leave> therefore*

* The United States again gloriously excepted ! — We have already stated above,
that a North American homoeopathist has cured all his six hundred patients, who
came under his treatment, after the beginning of September, 1832. An allopathist,
Dr. David M. Reese of this city, was not less fortunate, according to a letter
written to Dr. Nathaniel Porter, professor of the theory and practice of physic in the
University of Maryland, and published in U. S. Med. and Surg. Journal, Number V.
Dr. II. stales, " During the year 1832 I attended 432 cases, (of asiatic cholera) all
" of which were treated upon these general principles," — (repeated bleedings by
pounds, calomel by drachms, and ice at pleasure) — " varying according to the circum-
" stances which, more or less, modify every case ; and of this number I lost but nine,
" every one of whom, in my own opinion, died for want of blood-letting, the time for this
" operation having passed before I saw them." — Who will doubt, if among 432 cases
of Asiatic cholera only nine have died, and that every one of the latter would have
been cured, had Dr. Reese been called early enough, that all the world is very much
mistaken about this disease, if they consider it so dangerous. It will appear even less
dangerous than a catarrh,(vvhich sometimes may change into a fatal bronchitis, encepha-
litis, &c.,) to the physicians in all other quarters of the globe, as soon as they have
learned this infallible mode of treatment. — Dr. Reese, who ridicules all opinions about
the contagion of Asiatic cholera as fancies, has seen his treatment confirmed in the much
milder epidemic of this year, having lost but three of 101 patients; of course by the
same reason as quoted above in regard to the nine deaths. Our German professional
brethren will be much amazed at. these brilliant results, which they could not attain.
We cannot conceive why (according to the public reports) this year so many have
died from the Asiatic cholera as it has been much milder, and as those splendid results
of a treatment, .«<> settled l>v this uncommonly talented and happy practitioner, have
been known to the medical profession of America since the last epidemic; for,
ifhe himself could not attend to all cholera patients, his respected colleagues, in New

268

at least 1800 cured in one year by one physician ; or 20,000 phy-
sicians will cure, in ten centuries, 36,000 millions of patients. —
Admitting, therefore, even that five times as many, or 98 out of a
hundred patients of homoeopathists recover, and that, from the
present moment, every physician should become a faithful homoeo-
palhist, almost a whole century must elapse before the general
result could be incontrovertibly proved to be in favour of homce-
opathia, if its votaries insist upon the ridiculous and contemptible
assertion, that of 200 allopathic cures only one succeeds by
chance.

The real great truth, indirectly advanced by the homoeopathic
doctrine, consists in clearly demonstrating the ample means which
nature possesses to cure many and even dangerous diseases in
man also, if left undisturbed and without any interference what-
ever ; and that therefore many cases, requiring the assistance of
the healing art, may be cured much quicker and safer when phy-
sicians do not consider large doses of powerful drugs and an he-
roic method of treatment, always absolutely necessary. — Putting
out of view that no physician would obstinately pursue a mode of
treatment which, in all, or at least in most cases, would prove
immediately noxious, we would act as partial and unfair towards
homoeopathists, as Hahnemann does in regard to all allopathists,
if we should question for a moment the honesty of all of them,
and the truth of all their statements. Be the number of patients
suffered to recover by homoeopathists ever so small, a great
truth could be derived from these cases, which would prove
highly useful to many physicians of our time, if they were not
in favour of a fanaticism, much more noxious than the play-
things of a faithful homoeopathic treatment. Many would be
convinced, that thousands who might have recovered, after

York at least, would have been anxious to pursue such a simple mode of treatment !
We cannot understand also, what the meaning of Dr. Rees's restrictions can be
when he says, " treated upon these general principles, varying according to the cir-
" cumstances," &c ., since the conception oi general principles would unquestionably
dictate, in many cases, a very different and even opposite treatment; the fact, that
he would not certainly abstract three pounds of blood from an infant child, nor admi-
nister to it sixty grains of calomel pro dosi, does not, however beneficial it has proved
to be, exculpate this mode from being merely an empiric one. If both the
American homoeopathist and allopathist are correct ; and who dares doubt it ! how im-
mense is the difference between a dose of the thirtieth developed virtue of camphor,
copper, &c, and repeated doses of forty grains of calomel, &c. — Sed patet immani,

et vasto respectat hiatu ! Lucr. What can better prove the benevolent provision

of nature, in protecting life from the danger which naturally must arise in some cases,
from one or the other of both so diametrically opposite modes of treatment !

269

merely smelling of a moistened sugar-pellet, have fallen victims,
or escaped from death with a ruined constitution, by the prevalent
nonsensical opinion, that the only true guides of the physician are
symptoms and the results of post mortem examinations ; or by the
dominant prejudices, that every disease must be a genuine inflam-
mation, a plethora, an accumulation of bile, etc. and that there-
fore the blood, this very essence of animal life, and its noblest se-
creted fluids, are to be abstracted by repeated large bleedings ;
the sordes must be evacuated by large doses of calomel, cathartics,
etc. until all vital reaction, termed by them inflammatory excite-
ment, becomes extinct !

Many rude empirics, who now scoff at homoeopathia, merely
from self-conceit, without any further investigation of it, would
perhaps, on a nearer acquaintance with some of its facts, pause,
and cease to drug their patients with large doses of powerful me-
dicines, and would soon become sensible, that it is still better to
adopt whimsical drug-symptoms and virtues, than either to combat
causes which are only supposed to exist, or if they exist, rudely
to destroy the substance and resources of life simultaneously. —
They would scoff not less if they were told, that an extended me-
dical practice among all classes of people was conducted upwards
of thirty years, at least with results not less fortunate than those
they claim, almost without bleedings, without spoonfuls of calo-
mel, without large doses of opium, morphine, etc. and neverthe-
less, this fact is true. Hence it is evident, that they must either
assert, with the homceopathists, that all they prescribe can never
do any harm if it does no good ; or if they derive their fortunate
success from their active mode of treatment, they must consistently
admit, that many of those patients, who recovered without it, would
have been materially injured by it. To be sure, they could in re-
turn reply, with the same consistency, that many who were saved
by their partial and active treatment, would probably have died
without it. But we should think, that a medical treatment, which
regards minutely the great variety of the diseases of all the systems
and parts of the human body and the various and important at-
mospherical and other influences, which confidently trusts to the
great assistance of the vital powers, he, must appear more accord-
ant with the laws and processes of living nature, and must there-
fore generally prove more salutary, than a partial and rude medi

270

Cal autocracy ! — Wc should also think, even supposing the
numbers of cures and failures to be equal on both sides, and they
certainly are not, that it is still better to run the chance of letting
the patient die, than of killing him.— Physicians who attribute
the recoveries of their patients to their mode of treatment and skill,
and all their failures to mere accident, will never become con-
scious of their errors, and never improve in their profession : it is
principally the school of misfortune which makes wise men wiser ;
that physician only who soon forgets his cures, and remembers his
failures, will improve in knowledge and talent, though much grief
is added by this to his tiresome and arduous vocation. — Should it
be sufficient for medical practice to brandish the lancet and to
administer empirically some dozens of remedies, then anatomy,
physiology, chemistry, etc. with all their collateral sciences, are
also merely ornamental to allopathists, as they are to homceopa-
thists ; and we may justly presume, that no patient exists, who,
knowing the bearings and probable consequences of both, would
not judiciously prefer a homocopathist, if he should require the
assistance of a physician.

The neglect of philosophical study, and of the treasures contained
in the writings of the great physicians of past ages, which, com-
bined with the progress of modern anatomy, physiology and che-
mistry, would have highly elevated the profession of our times, has
paved the way for homoeopathia. Conscious of this fact, let us thank-
fully acknowledge the consequences which even this unparalleled
superstition has indirectly promoted, and all the blessings of rational
medicine will be again secured to mankind. Rational medicine
has always acknowledged, and truly learned and talented physi-
cians have always observed, that the smallest dose of any medicine
may be sometimes too large, and the largest too small, provided
that, the limits of both are not imaginary, but marked by the laws
of nature, by experience and common sense. The salutary use
of mineral springs, which frequently contain only very small
quantities of medicinal substances, have attracted for many cen-
turies the reflections of the judicious physicians in regard to the
efficacy of small doses; and severe chronic diseases, especially those
which, idiopathically or sympathetically, affect the organs and gang-
lions of the abdomen, have often been cured with small quantities of
digestive salts, emetic tartar, calomel, &c 3 by which, probably, in
the center of the animal functions, a series of salutary living- electro

271

chemical processes is excited and entertained^- We think that the
great discoveries in modern chemistry, especially those belonging to

the processes last mentioned, will promote still more the exhibition ol
reasonably small doses of medicines, particularly in cases which arc
not urgent; and we are confident and hope that, in this way, me-
dicine will soon be greatly and beneficially reformed. "We regret that
this reform will be delayed by the discredit which must follow ho-
moeopathia, as soon as its true bearings are generally known.

Were it possible to prove incontrovcrtibly, that one single case has
ever been cured by, and not merely after, the thirtieth developed
virtue of any substanceor drug, no apology whatever could be devised
for the medical profession, if it should hesitate forthwith to adopt
homreopathia. None more than ourselves would then humbly
acknowledge our deceptive prejudices so long entertained, and none
would be more willing than ourselves, to atone amply for the injury
done, perhaps, in these pages to homoeopath ists and their doctrine, by
our misled zeal for truth and the welfare of our fellow-men. — As a
physician, we must then hail such a state of things, by which, in
the words of the ingenious and learned author on demonology and
witchcraft, " the ordinary laws of nature were occasionally sus-
" pended," though we could not consider it a blessing for mankind
to attain even the greatest age by homo'opathia, if, as would be the
case, the foundation of reason and experience, in medicine as in
other sciences, is destroyed, and a new era of supernatural powers
and miracles is opened. But until then, we will likewise faithfully
adhere to the other judicious expression of the same celebrated
writer, viz. " Each advance in natural knowledge teaches us, that
" it is the pleasure of the Creator to govern the world by laws,
" which he has imposed, and which are not in our times interrupted
" and suspended."

We devoutly confess, that we must admit much that we cannot
comprehend, and we are fully convinced, that if our knowledge
could be many billion times greater than it is, we would, however,
be still conscious that it is by far too little, distantly to comprehend
the fundamental law of nature, and still less, its eternal first cause.
— Medicine particularly has been, and always will be, more un-
certain and more subject to the influence of erroneous hypotheses,
than most other conjectural sciences, because in animal, and par-
ticularly in human life, the physical powers of natural appear con-
nected with, and modified by, the laws of a higher and very dif-

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ferent order of things ; to these we feel that we particularly belong
in the few fleeting moments, when the abstracted mind seems
disenthralled from the sway of physical nature, and becomes con-
scious of its future better home. It is owing to our total want of a
clear conception what life itself is, and wherein it essentially con-
sists, that the healing art, more than any other, alternately advances
and retrogrades, and that, notwithstanding the greatest discoveries
and experiences made in it, one age bequeaths to another its self-
created or inherited superannuated errors and prejudices under the
cloak of truth. But, nevertheless, rational medicine, called by
Hahnemann allopathia, can justly boast of truths which have stood
the test of upwards of a score of centuries, and will probably re-
main unshaken for ages. Every honest physician, whose interest
is not merely confined to the bedside of his patients, but who is
zealous for truth, and fully aware of the destination of his arduous
vocation, will feel himself in duty bound to defend the tenable
ground which Providence has granted to the human intellect, and
to the noblest exertions of the really high-gifted benefactors of
their race, against the encroachments of any superstition and cre-
dulity. This defence, however, will in medicine also be successful
only b)^ the great advantages which true religious devotion, the
means of an ample philosophical education, assiduous study and
true love for that vocation offer; but not by a doctrine like Hahne-
mannism, which despises all the laws of the human intellect and
of nature, which substitutes for rational medicine the products of
a morbid fancy and the rudest empiricism which ever existed ;
and which, as it admits of no cause which is not visible or palpable,
would even not allow the existence of a God.

If in doing so, with consciousness of our faithful exertions for
truth and philanthropy, we should once become sensible of our
long cherished errors and mistakes, we will candidly confess them ;
and when we arrive at the great cross-way which separates the
twilight of our earthly existence from the brightness of eternal
truth, we may quietly exclaim with Laplace, the Newton of the
nineteenth century, when breathing his last. : — " all we know i?
li very little ; but all we do not know is immense."

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